DER TAG: NELSON AND BEATTY
A BROADSHEET.
1.
No doubt ’twas a truly Christian sight
When the German ships came out of the Bight,
But it can’t be said it was much of a fight
That grey November morning;
The wonderful day, the great Der Tag,
Which Prussians had vow’d with unmannerly brag
Should see Old England lower her flag
Some grey November morning.
2.
The spirit of Nelson, that haunts the Fleet,
Had come whereabouts the ships must meet,
But he fear’d there was some decoy or cheat
That grey November morning,
When the enemy led by a British scout
Stole ’twixt our lines ... and never a shout
Or a signal; and never a gun spoke out
That grey November morning.
3.
So he shaped his course to the Admiral’s ship,
Where Beatty stood with hand on hip
Impassive, nor ever moved his lip
That grey November morning;
And touching his shoulder he said: “My mate,
Am I come too soon or am I too late?
Is it friendly manœuvres or pageant of State
This grey November morning?”