Songs from Vagabondia

<h3><SPAN name="THE_BUCCANEERS" name="THE_BUCCANEERS"></SPAN>THE BUCCANEERS.</h3> <p>Oh, not for us the easy mirth <br/>Of men that never roam! <br/>The crackling of the narrow hearth, <br/>The cabined joys of home! <br/>Keep your tame, regulated glee, <br/>O pale protected State! <br/>Our dwelling-place is on the sea, <br/>Our joy the joy of Fate! <br/> <br/>No long caresses give us ease, <br/>No lazy languors warm, <br/>We seize our mates as the sea-gulls seize, <br/>And leave them to the storm. <br/>But in the bridal halls of gloom <br/>The couch is stern and strait; <br/>For us the marriage rite of Doom, <br/>The nuptial joy of Fate. <br/> <br/>Wine for the weaklings of the town, <br/>Their lucky toasts to drain! <br/>Our skoal for them whose star goes down, <br/>Our drink the drink of men! <br/>No Bacchic ivy for our brows! <br/>Like vikings, we await <br/>The grim, ungarlanded carouse <br/>We keep to-night with Fate. <br/> <br/>Ho, gamesters of the pampered court! <br/>What stakes are those at strife? <br/>Your thousands are but paltry sport <br/>To them that play for life. <br/>You risk doubloons, and hold your breath. <br/>Win groats, and wax elate; <br/>But we throw loaded dice with Death, <br/>And call the turn on Fate. <br/> <br/>The kings of earth are crowned with care, <br/>Their poets wail and sigh; <br/>Our music is to do and dare, <br/>Our empire is to die. <br/>Against the storm we fling our glee <br/>And shout, till Time abate <br/>The exultation of the sea, <br/>The fearful joy of Fate.</p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />