When the Æolus held her in chase,
And the Belvidere and the Shannon,
And the Africa, ship-o’-the-line,
With another, doomed to her cannon,
To be blazoned in flame at the last,
When the grim sea-duel was done:
God rest the souls that passed
Ere the Guerrière’s leeward gun!
Ere the noblest flag on the sea
Came down to the Stripes and Stars!