And so against all righteous things
We’ve struggled from the first, sir,
To vex and thwart the better kings,
And sided with the worst, sir.
In reign of Anne, ’twas one of us,[33]
Gave notice to the foe, sir,
Against his port and arsenal
We aimed a warlike blow, sir;
And thus were lost, in dire defeat,
Eight hundred sailors bold, sir—