New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-03
DAVID GWYN.
= p.rrAn OF THE ARMADK.a.

a BArLAr1 OF THE Armada
Laws Morris in The Universal Review.
navid Gwyn was a welshman bold who pinned slave
10 the hulks OF spain ,,,.s
Taen n years o sn sSs K Ds sonS Main
IN that cruel country be shared the captves bitter
sor nf eaR ss1 years passed and left him dreaming
stil Of the days that were n not :. o.,.,.,.,.
Or green caermsrtksn. or rich Glsmorgsn or Pombroo
scenns within S'' his seaad prison. who s ss the
Tho acrcS sun beat on the brown serras, spnngtide
ss. hope faiied tho dauntless sailor chained in
Ls-@iy and ntsSdisss starved and bunessd. mono to
pulns .wsys and sssus yearly, as slow Time wssnsd
whie longing and hate burned high and higher a. life
sank lowsr and hope fell dead,
with . Sr ss ans S ssUSIs sSd ns ana ~
Ficvor autnmns. eleven winters wasted their Wehsone
length awag. 4 e. ~
Tim there swoke round his floating prison olang Of
hammers and hustle OF men; -. ....s.
spap win lay waste your hereto island with nre and
sword ere tho winter DO come.
md ycu and the rest o. your elon crow shall row the
gal;eys which sack your homo!
Inc I never raw word ' IL reply said he,
ToIlInc oSedieny days and weeks til the great feet
sailed on the summer sea, ~,
srleudd galleons towering skywad with 1lded masts
and with strcamers bravo.
Floating proudly TO martial music the blue ausita
Four ssat ssiisys leading the van and in onD midst
tho ciose- thronged benches sato
David Gwyn forgotten oarsman. nursing o. burnlng
heart Of hate
30 along tho MINDLESS ocean slow the great Armada
Two long brcathless weeks of blazet tho hot
Hourly nom the hlshdeck pulpts preaching rose and
Ana he eoyine fumes Of incense on tho brisk Atlantic
curtiers pe and seawon sailors cstng the slow hours
sllcn sails and blazoned standards tapping idly day by
And within his high poOpsures moro than mortal to
The iFh Admiral Medina loungng IDLY. clothed with
Not thought Of peril touched them. not dream Of
Proudly sailing sure Of conquest with the benson Of
And far down among the oarsmcn's benches. fainting
psv,a GTyn, patriot helpless. with aburning heart
with tho roaring Bay Of Bscay louder winds and
And isss ssllsons plunge and labor and tho rolling
BIseksr loom the drifting stOrmciouds nerccr grow
Far and wide the ssioons scatter driving, drifting
Higher mount the sdcrins surges, tossed TO heaven,
Roar or plnnse the cumbrous gaiicys wile the hcip
re s diver M Diana sides head first beneath tho
No, soul Of all her hundreds may her lasonns
Now TO iarboard. now to starboard shattered, tost
Hslpss: roll: so great Armada shOrn of aisis pomn
Down between those topping ridges, groaning strain
David OWN y az among Inc ossmen sits wihfumph in
Thsn amid the roaring seas, when hope was gone and
And he hearts q Ill tho spaniards sinking. falling
Boldly 20 the sc' naughty Captain David owyn tho oars
Yelling With fearless frauhness ar'thc depth Of his
irtpnt
@oaicE scnor the ship 10 sinking; hhe her consort
Buried soon With slaves and frcemen. fathoms deep
Give me oarc and VIII save her; Iihsvo fought thu
Fought and conquered storms and foemen many q
And tho hanghty Captain, knowing David owyn u
seaman sola sr.,,,h Main ths foemen sailed and
Answered. turning to the prisoners 4save the ship.
Freedom from thy lifelong letters. sueraon from the
Lord OF Spains
Then nom out the prisoners eye there flashed sudden
And sudden gIeam Of triumph DER bis eiouded visase
Thinking Of his cymric homestead and tho fair years
And his glory Who should save her from the thradom
al VIII save your ship.' no. answered; " trust me
Pack the soldiers under hatchss leave the main deck
FREQ and olear.s
Doubling much the Don consented; only, lest tho
BY each oarSman set soldier, watching him with
Little knew he Of the cunning secret signs and watch
OF long wears Of cruel fetters stripes and hunger spite
Little thought he every prisoner as 10 misery no satc
Had dagger In his wastband, waiting for tho call
OF Fate.
David Own. the valiant seaman. long time batticd
TIL the furious s,orn-wind slackcned and tho ship
Sudden ihen he gave the signal raised his arm and
Every oarsmsn .rising swiftly stabbed his harlss
Seized his arms, and. fred with conquest, mad with
vengeance s i1e hood ,rrs,,,r o,, N. sn.n
iaris in their blood.
David Gwyn now the Captain, and tho great ship
Well the slaves cbeysd tho comraao, thus to sudden
Straight for France the stout vasana shaping sudden
on her leo
Don Diego IN tie Royal foamng through the STRICKEN
Driven BY full four hundred oarsmeu nigh the mon
Tnsn from out her laundering broadsde swift and sud-
den lightning dew.
missiles sped;
Nine strong sailors In q moment lay around their
captain dead
David Gwyn, the dauntess Captain, turning to his
comrades then
God has given you freedom; earn II fear not quit
yourselves like men.
Lay the ship aboard the Royal free your comrades and
be freep
The strong oarmon bent obedicnt, rowing swiftly,
silently,
TILL a. II in middle ocean striking on hidden rock,
All the stout vasana's mbcrs, quvering. recing with
tho shock
Straight on board the crowded Royal lespt that band
OF desperate mon,
Freed the slaves and loft no spanard who might tell
tho tale again;
And the sister galloys stately with fair winds sped
safely on,
Under David dwyn, their Captain and cast anchor at
Bayonne.