All true-hearted Tars love their ships and their wives."
So DIBDIN declared, and he spoke for the Tar;
He knew Jack so well, both in peace and in war!
But hang it! times change, and 'tis sad to relate,
The old Dibdinish morals seem quite out of date;
Stick close to your ship, lads, like pitch till you die?—
That sounds nonsense to-day, and I'll tell ye for why.
The good old Foudroyant—how memory dwells on
Those brave fighting names!—was once flag-ship to NELSON.
But NELSON, you know, died a good while ago,