The Fringes of the Fleet: 2. Fate's Discourtesy - Charles Mott, Frederick Henry, Frederick Stewart

Be well assured that on our side

Our challenged oceans fight

Though headlong wind and leaping tide

Make us their sport to-night

Through force of weather, not of war

In jeopardy we steer

Then welcome Fate’s discourtesy

Whereby it shall appear

How in all time of our distress

As in our triumph too

The game is more than the player of the game

And the ship is more than the crew!

Be well assured, though wave and wind

Have mightier blows in store

That we who keep the watch assigned

Must stand to it the more;

And as our streaming bows dismiss

Each billow’s baulked career

Sing welcome Fate’s discourtesy

Whereby it is made clear

How in all time of our distress

As in our triumph too

The game is more than the player of the game

And the ship is more than the crew!

Be well assured that on our side

Our challenged oceans fight

Though headlong wind and leaping tide

Make us their sport to-night

Through force of weather, not of war

In jeopardy we steer

Then welcome Fate’s discourtesy

Whereby it shall appear

How in all time of our distress

As in our triumph too

The game is more than the player of the game

And the ship is more than the crew!