Now there was a valiant captain, a man of war, hating all iniquity even
as poison.
And his name was WILKES--honor and praise to it in all lands!--
Captain of the San Jacinto, cruising for a pirate on the high seas, even
for the Sumter.
And he came from Africa, even from the East unto the Havana, in an isle
of the sea which lieth under the tower of the Moro;
Where he heard from his Consul strange news, saying that MASON
and SLIDELL had sailed in a British steamer, even the Trent,
which saileth between Vera Cruz, Havana, and St. Thomas.
Then said the captain, 'Shall I refrain myself to stop this iniquity?
'Arise, oh my soul, gird thyself, and go forth; tarry not, but nab them
in their wickedness.
'Take them where the hair is short; jerk them, and pull them even as the
fancy policeman pulleth the pickpocket when he seeth him picking the
pocket of the righteous.
'Shall I hold back my hand when my country calleth? Not if I know it.
_Selah_.
'Up steam and after them, oh my soul; let there be coal under the
boilers, oh my heart; let the way in which we shall travel be a caution,
faster than Flora Temple or any other man.
'Fling forth the stripes and stars--hoist the rag, thou galiant sailior;
go it strong as it can be mixed. For the star-spangled banner in triumph
shall wave o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.'