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Poem
December 18, 1808
Kentucky Gazette And General Advertiser
Lexington, Fayette County, Kentucky
What is this article about?
A sailor's song expressing the joys of sea life and declaring his unwavering love and constancy for his beloved Nan, likening it to a faithful compass needle, amid themes of duty, friendship, and honor.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
"TO SOAR ALOFT ON FANCY'S WING."
SONG.
SWEET is the ship that under sail
Spreads her white bosom to the gale;
Sweet, oh, sweet's the flowing can;
Sweet to poise the laboring oar
That tugs us to our native shore,
When the boatswain pipes the barge to man
Sweet sailing with a fav'ring breeze,
But oh! much sweeter than all these
Is Jack's delight, his lovely Nan
The needle, faithful to the North.
To her of constancy the worth,
A curious lesson teaches man.
The needle time may rust, a squall
Capsize the binnacle and all,
Let seamanship do all it can:
My love in worth shall higher rise,
Nor time shall rust, nor squalls capsize.
My faith and truth to lovely Nan.
When in the bilboes I was penn'd
For serving of a worthless friend,
And every creature from me ran;
No ship performing quarantine
Was ever so deserted seen:
None hail'd me, woman, child, or man.
But tho' those friendship's sails were furl'd.
Tho' cut adrift from all the world.
I'd all the world in lovely Nan.
I love my duty, love my friend,
Love truth and merit to defend.
To moan their loss who hazard vent
I love to take an honest part,
Love beauty—and a spotless heart,—
By manners love to shew the man;
To sail thro' life by honor's breeze,
'Twas all along of loving these,
First made me doat on lovely Nan.
SONG.
SWEET is the ship that under sail
Spreads her white bosom to the gale;
Sweet, oh, sweet's the flowing can;
Sweet to poise the laboring oar
That tugs us to our native shore,
When the boatswain pipes the barge to man
Sweet sailing with a fav'ring breeze,
But oh! much sweeter than all these
Is Jack's delight, his lovely Nan
The needle, faithful to the North.
To her of constancy the worth,
A curious lesson teaches man.
The needle time may rust, a squall
Capsize the binnacle and all,
Let seamanship do all it can:
My love in worth shall higher rise,
Nor time shall rust, nor squalls capsize.
My faith and truth to lovely Nan.
When in the bilboes I was penn'd
For serving of a worthless friend,
And every creature from me ran;
No ship performing quarantine
Was ever so deserted seen:
None hail'd me, woman, child, or man.
But tho' those friendship's sails were furl'd.
Tho' cut adrift from all the world.
I'd all the world in lovely Nan.
I love my duty, love my friend,
Love truth and merit to defend.
To moan their loss who hazard vent
I love to take an honest part,
Love beauty—and a spotless heart,—
By manners love to shew the man;
To sail thro' life by honor's breeze,
'Twas all along of loving these,
First made me doat on lovely Nan.
What sub-type of article is it?
Song
What themes does it cover?
Love Courtship
Friendship
Moral Virtue
What keywords are associated?
Sailor Song
Lovely Nan
Constancy Needle
Naval Life
Loyalty Friendship
Honor Duty
Poem Details
Title
To Soar Aloft On Fancy's Wing.
Key Lines
Sweet Is The Ship That Under Sail
Spreads Her White Bosom To The Gale;
Sweet, Oh, Sweet's The Flowing Can;
But Oh! Much Sweeter Than All These
Is Jack's Delight, His Lovely Nan
The Needle, Faithful To The North.
To Her Of Constancy The Worth,
A Curious Lesson Teaches Man.
I'd All The World In Lovely Nan.
To Sail Thro' Life By Honor's Breeze,
'Twas All Along Of Loving These,
First Made Me Doat On Lovely Nan.