And quickened, as with quivering battle-stains,

The printed ships that decked the parlour wall.

From oaken frames old admirals looked down:

They saw the lonely slumberer at their feet:

They saw the paper, headed Talk from Town;

Our rusting trident, and our phantom fleet:

And from a neighbouring tavern surged a song

Of England laughing in the face of war,

With eyes unconquerably proud and strong,

And lips triumphant from her Trafalgar.