Classic Poem

Countrymen of England, who live at home with ease,
And little think what dangers are incident o' the seas:
Give ear unto the sailor who unto you will show
—His case, his case: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

He that is a sailor must have a valiant heart,
For when he is upon the sea, he is not like to start;
But must with noble courage all dangers undergo:
—Resolve, resolve: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

Our calling is laborious and subject to much care,
But we must still contented be, with what falls to our share.
We must not be faint-hearted, come tempest, rain or snow,
—Nor shrink, nor shrink: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

Sometimes on Neptune's bosom our ship is tossed with waves,
And every minute we expect the sea must be our graves.
Sometimes on high she mounteth, then falls again as low,
—With waves, with waves: When stormy winds do blow.

Then with unfeignëd prayers, as Christian duty binds,
We turn unto the Lord of hosts with all our hearts and minds;
To him we flee for succour, for he, we surely know,
—Can save, can save: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

Then he who breaks the rage, the rough and blusterous seas,
When his disciples were afraid, will straight the storms appease,
And give us cause to thank, on bended knees full low,
—Who saves, who saves: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

Our enemies approaching, when we on sea espy,
We must resolve incontinent to fight, although we die;
With noble resolution we must oppose our foe,
—In fight, in fight: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

And when by God's assistance, our foes are put to the foil,
To animate our courages, we all have share o' the spoil.
Our foes into the ocean we back to back do throw,
—To sink, or swim: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

Countrymen of England, who live at home with ease,
And little think what dangers are incident o' the seas:
Give ear unto the sailor who unto you will show
—His case, his case: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

He that is a sailor must have a valiant heart,
For when he is upon the sea, he is not like to start;
But must with noble courage all dangers undergo:
—Resolve, resolve: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

Our calling is laborious and subject to much care,
But we must still contented be, with what falls to our share.
We must not be faint-hearted, come tempest, rain or snow,
—Nor shrink, nor shrink: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

Sometimes on Neptune's bosom our ship is tossed with waves,
And every minute we expect the sea must be our graves.
Sometimes on high she mounteth, then falls again as low,
—With waves, with waves: When stormy winds do blow.

Then with unfeignëd prayers, as Christian duty binds,
We turn unto the Lord of hosts with all our hearts and minds;
To him we flee for succour, for he, we surely know,
—Can save, can save: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

Then he who breaks the rage, the rough and blusterous seas,
When his disciples were afraid, will straight the storms appease,
And give us cause to thank, on bended knees full low,
—Who saves, who saves: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

Our enemies approaching, when we on sea espy,
We must resolve incontinent to fight, although we die;
With noble resolution we must oppose our foe,
—In fight, in fight: Howe'er the wind doth blow.

And when by God's assistance, our foes are put to the foil,
To animate our courages, we all have share o' the spoil.
Our foes into the ocean we back to back do throw,
—To sink, or swim: Howe'er the wind doth blow.