PERSIAN PIRATE'S SONG.

Otago Witness, Issue 1856, 17 June 1887, Page 29

PERSIAN PIRATE'S SONG.

Away with all cares : give us laughter and wine, And with roses and myrtle our temples entwine ! Oh ! who is more stern in the strife than the rover, And who is more gay when the battle is over, Like the sea-kings of yore we will skim o'er the mainWoe, woe to the wretch who would question pur reign ! To the hilt we will plunge in his bosom our swords, And teach him that we of the sea are the lordß. But away with all cares: give us laughter, and wine, And with myrtle and roßes our temples entwine I What life is more free and more gay than a pirates' ? What others must toil for and purchase at . high rates, ' ■ He wins with sword, and though dastards and fools Still teach aud are taught in the mosques ' and the schools That tne corsair is damn'd and devoted to hell, And dies in despair with a shriek or a yell, ' Let them preach and still rail as they will at our lite, ' ' . When with fair captive maidens return'd the strife, We Bhall soothe us with love, and all crown'd with red roses, ■ In the arms of his mistress'each pirate reposes, 'Tis little we'll reck in the rapturous revel, Even though they should cal» us the the sons of the devil; All tliat riches can buy, all that earth can supply, We corsairs enjoy without let or anuoy, And when we quit life in the ardour of strife, We go as a love-sated boy from a maiden, [ Or a feaster when cloy'd from the board richly laden. So away with all cares : let us quaff the rich wines While the sun of fair fortune still splendidly shines, The cuirass and casque we will don when the day Breaks gorgeously over Harmozla's broad bay, And merrily, merrily over the deep From the bright Persian (Sea to the Indian we'll sweep, '_ ' And many a prize we will seige from the Giaour, Then hie to our haughty and wave-circled tower. Hurrah for that day when in battle array, ' > We haste to the fray, all our might to display 1 . , Not a trice we'll delay when their fleet we survey, For what toe can the heart of ;a corsair dismay ? Like the Spartan the corsair must conquer or die ; And by the great Allah who ruleth on nigh. ■ Not a brig of Yeldurrum's shall evet surrender While any arm and a sabre is left to defend her: Full many and many a wight we will slay, And nought shall the tide of our victory stay. Ao the nectar now flows let the blood of our foes, When the red hand of carnage their might overthrows. But away with all cares : let us quaff the rich wines, While the sun of fair fortuneßtill splendidly shines ; For though none are more stern in the strife than the rover. , ' Yet none are more gay when the battle is over. ■ — H. C.J. ' Victoria.