LESSON 18
THE SAILOR'S CONSOLATION1

Charles Dibdin, the author, was born at Southampton, England, in 1745. He wrote a number of fine sea songs. He died in 1814.

1. One night came on a hurricane2,

The sea was mountains rolling,

When Barney Buntline turned his quid3,

And said to Billy Bowling:

“A strong norwester's4 blowing, Bill;

Hark!5 don't ye hear it roar now?

Lord help 'em, how I pities6 all

Unhappy folks on shore now!

2. “Foolhardy chaps who live in town,

What danger they are all in,

And now are quaking in their beds,

For fear the roof shall fall in:

Poor creatures, how they envy us,

And wish, as I've a notion,

For our good luck, in such a storm,

To be upon the ocean.

3. “But as for them who're out all day,

On business from their houses,

And late at night are coming home,

To cheer the babes and spouses;

While you and I, Bill, on the deck,

Are comfortably lying,

My eyes7! what tiles and chimney pots

About their heads are flying!

4. “And very often have we heard

How men are killed and undone

By overturns of carriages,

By thieves, and fires in London.

We know what risks all landsmen8 run,

From noblemen to tailors;

Then, Bill, let us thank Providence

That you and I are sailors.”

STUDY GUIDE

A. Word Definition

providence:the protective care of God.

ye:you.

foolhardy:willing to take risk.

quaking:shaking with fear.

envy:desire with jealousy.

notion:idea.

spouses:wives or husbands.

tiles:clay roof pieces.

chimney pots:top caps of chimneys.

undone:injured.

overturns:to turn upside down.

B. Study Notes

1. Consolation: A person or thing that provides comfort to someone after a loss or disappointment.

2. Hurricane: a very powerful windstorm (wind speeds above 119 kilometers per hour).

3. Quid: a piece of chewing tobacco. This meaning is not often used now.“Quid” usually means “Great British Pound, ” the currency used in the United Kingdom.

4. Norwester: A wind coming from the northwest of one's location.

5. Hark! : An old fashioned expression used to draw someone's attention to something suddenly.

6. Here, “pity” would be correct, but the character speaking in the poem does not speak English perfectly.

7. My eyes! : A statement of shock or surprise.

8. Landsmen: a term used by sailors for people who live (and work) on land.

C. Comprehension Questions

1. How did Barney Buntline feel to be on a boat in the ocean during the hurricane?

2. How did Barney feel about the people on shore?

3. What do you think the word “ 'em” means at the end of the first stanza? What does “who're” mean at the beginning of the third stanza?

D. Match words that rhyme with each other (2 words will not be used).

lying rolling being trying sailing

ocean tile bowling motion while

1. _______________ - _______________

2. _______________ - _______________

3. _______________ - _______________

4. _______________ - _______________