A DAY IN OLD GREENWICH by VICTOR GUSTAVE PLARR

Cavendish sailed up the Thames with marines and soldiers clothed in silk, with
sails of damask and topsails of cloth of gold, and the richest prize that was
ever brought at one time to the English shores.

Oh, he was a brave sea Captain,
That had sailed around the world,
And the sails that day fast stowed away
Had in many a gale been furled.
There were heaps and heaps of treasure,
Ingots of Spanish gold,
And gems of price, and fragrant spice,
Fast hoarded in the hold.

Proud trod the brave sea Captain,
His decks as white as milk,
And the very sails from his costliest bales
That day were made of silk.
The Captain was clad in velvet,
And his cutlass hilt shone fair,
And the common men in triumph then
Strewed gold dust in their hair.

There were bright eyes gleaming brighter
For the tears unshed that day,
And an honoured head grown whiter
For the years that had passed away.
Little recked they of the treasure
Or the honours he had won,
For the lady craves a lover brave,
And the mother waits a son.

Down stepped Queen Bess to greet them,
On a rough uneven way—
One who forth sprung and his cloak down flung
Hath his fortune made that day—
Loud was the joyful cheering,
Bright was the smile of the Queen,
But the Captain sought and dearer thought
Far humbler smiles I ween.

Fair was the lordly pageant
The silver Thames rolled fair,
Lusty and loud the joyous crowd
Flung welcomes on the air,
Gallant the Captain's bearing,
As his colours held in hand
He was dubbed a knight in all men's sight
When he put his foot to land.

But there's somewhat prouder than triumph,
There's somewhat richer than spoil,
Dearer than safety when peril's past,
Or than rest is after toil.
This the sea Captain tasteth,
With his mother by his side,
And his arm enlaced round the slender waist
Of his own affianced bride.

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