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TO THE MODERN BATTLESHIP, by                    
First Line: Oh, men have fought with arrows
Last Line: Three cheers for the battleship!
Subject(s): Battleships; Enemies; Fights


OH, men have fought with arrows,
And men have fought with swords,
And the deadly spit from the musket's mouth
Has withered its countless hordes.
But not for these would I sing a song,
Nor raise the glass to my lip.
Stand up! Now all! I pledge a health
To the modern battleship!

Here's to the graceful battleship,
Beautiful in her strength,
As she lies at rest on the harbor's breast,
Swinging an idle length;
A giantess slumbering the hour away,
A tigress at rest in her den;
At rest till the word of the order is heard,
"Go, shatter the works of men."

Here's to the deadly battleship,
Terrible in the fight;
With each dragon's breath see her belch forth death,
Glorying in her might.
Her eye is keen for an enemy's hull,
And she misses never a one,
Till each finds its grave in the shuddering wave
To the knell of a twelve-inch gun.

Then here's to the laurelled battleship,
Conqueror over all;
We may safely sleep while she rides the deep,
Ready at danger's call.
We have tried her again and we know she's true,
And we'll trust her another trip.
Her health first, boys, and then, with a noise,
Three cheers for the battleship!





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