Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-11-30
Captain Lcredau---A. D. 1899.

Old Venice grappled with the Turk
In fourteen hundred ninety-ninet
In truth 1t was troubled work,
And rhdd7 were the seas as wine;
For dread baiaze< set atoat
Against oar ieet three hundred sail;
And when be took fishing boat
Remersslsssly his soldiers smote
Our helpless men, and poured their blood
Upon the Adriatic's food. &
His cruisers left slsody trail;
Carr admiral GFimani lay
IL hesitating silence till.
While yet irres0iute, one day 4@
Eo heard our flock of galleys thrill
With lusty, manly singing,
With csantur loud ano iung.
And through his brain weEt ringing
This burden Of the song:
"Oh, wnere is Captain Loredan7
For he will chow the wayl
Give us oIr Captain Loredan,
And we viii tempt the frayl
Now listen to this hoary man
Who leans upon his oar;
He'll tell You how brave Loredan
Slew twenty Turks and morel"
So through the ships the story ran,
And o'er tie stars the glory ran
The story OF
The glory III
Victorious great Loredanl
9rimani felt his cheeks gyow white
But not with fear; it was with rage;
For he had sworn that in this fight
He'd blot proud Loredan's bright page.
What Is this Captain Loredan
But officer at my commando"
He cried; "Ill crush the daring man,
And lest he rush into the van
OF battle, newer fame to wiz,
I'll fold my galley's banners in,
And hug the comfortable Iand.n
So said he; and he paced the deck
With jealous envy at his side
While grim Bajazet wrought his wreck
Among our shiFping far and wide.
But still came breezes bringing
Our galley oarsmen's song;
Der purple waters ninging
Its protest against wrong:
Oh, where is Captain Loredan7
He's here with MS, ro-dayl
Give us our Captain Loredan-
He VIII not bid us stayl
Now listen to this hoary man
Wko leans upon his oar;
He'll tell you how stanch Loredan
Has swept the waves before"
So through the ships the story ran,
And DER the seas the story ran
The story Of
The glory of
Victorious great Loredani
III.
Nor day nor night Grimani stirred;
The Turkish fleet, grown bold, drew near;
Our men, impatient, begged the word
For action; but Grimani's eneer
Froze up their hearts, until one morn,
Out from the shimniering splendcr broke
A blood-red dawn-for battle born;
And haughtily, as if in scorn,
The Crescent's pennant futtered high
Upon the mighty craft-close by
Standing alone.
Then, with one stroke
OF springing oars, galley sped
Out from our midst; second came
To join her; and like lightning hed
Beyond Grimani's cry Of "Shamel
What are those Oarsmen singing
Who my command disdain?"
Back came the answer ringing,
In strange ecstatic strain:
This is the Captain Loredan;
These be his galleys twsin
Lo here is Captain Ioredan,
Whom fools cannot restrain!
Now listen to this hoary man
Who tolls upon his oar;
And win with Captain Loredan-
Or Venice see no more I"
So through the ships the story ran
And through all hearts the glory ran
The story Of
The glory of
Victorious great Loredan
The Turkish monster thrilled with life;
From her gigantic sides rained down
Huge missiles with destruction rife;
And many fighter fell to drown
Between the gaileys' sides that shook
As II with frenzied laughter, when
The thunders Of our cannon took
The yellow from the Turks wild look
And brought tne ashes to his lips.
He could not fight these believing ships
Nor war with these enchanted men
Who Climbed nlO0U his y.flle0rsS rail.
Who swan, and sank, and sprang in space,
Stl'l hghtlng; men who scorned to wall
Tho carved by swords and who with grace
Kept up their rhythmic singing
With dying lips that bled;
Sang-to the galeys clinging
With fingers battle-red-
This is the Captain Loredan,
And we are all his mena
How like you Captain Loredan,
Who fights YOU one to ten?
Now listen to this hoary man
Who still is at his oar,
And fly from Captain Loredan,
Or Byzance see no morew
So through the ships the story ran,
And o'er the seas the glory ram
The story of
The glory Of
Victorious great Loredan.
Swift sailing from the roseate East
Came kindred ships the Turks to aid;
And now the struggles rage increased;
Wild flames broke forth to mak5 alisid
The Moslems on their conquered craft.
just as the banner Of Saint Mark
Was raised upon he--fore and aft
Came weird shudder And abaft
The wretched Turks ran quakingly
To leap into the crimsoned sea;
Then came vast thunder
1t was dark.
The ship-our splendid galleys-all
Went skyward-rending friends and foes
As fire burst through the wooden wall
To stores Of powder.
Then arose
Out from the chaos bringing
A harmony complete
A sound of voices singing
This chorus strong and sweet:
"To die with Captain Lorcdan
Is joy enough for menI
Who would not die with Loredan
No matter how or when?
Oh, listen to this hoary man
Who floats upon his oar;
He sings the death OF Loredan.
Who ne'er will lead him raore.
To Venice, so the story ran,
And through The world the story ran
The story of
The glory Of
Victorious dead Loredanl
-Edtcard King, in Boston Journo