ALL. Hurrah for the song. Now Bill! (SAUNDERS _hesitates_).
OXENHAM. He’s backward. It’s his modesty, (_laughter_), lend a hand there, heave him ahead!
_They gather round_ SAUNDERS _laughing and push him forward to the front_. _Hitching up his breeches sailor fashion_, _he prepares himself to sing_.
SAUNDERS (_looking round at them_). Come on then, boys, and chime in all hands, keeping time with the stroke oar, like jolly tars.
The Greeks in dreams of Paradise Did golden apples try To make thy trees Hesperides Their immortality, But wine’s the stuff Just drink enough, The Nectar of the sky.
Our father Noe knew the way, He planted us the vine, And Poets sing, and Prophets say, His knowledge was divine. For wine’s the stuff, Then drink enough, You’ll Never! Never die!
When fevers, plagues, or blows are near. Or surging seas run high, We fearless Britons drink and cheer. (_They cheer_). And face our destiny! Oh Wine’s the stuff, Just drink enough, And never fear to die.
Be sure you don’t the Doctor call Pill draught, and Bolus fly, For if you take them, one or all! Just bid your friends good bye! Good wine’s the stuff, Then drink enough, And never say you’ll die! (_Laughter and cheers_).
_The deep forest around_. _Distant mountains_. _Deck of the_ “_Pacha_.” DRAKE _and_ CHIRUCA.
DRAKE. This seems a hiding-place retired enough. Yet! should the Spaniards come here, and so many of us absent?
CHIRUCA. There is no danger. They know nothing of this region. Five nations of warriors are in arms against them. Our homes will be your homes; our food will be your food; the beautiful daughters of the land will be your wives; we will love you like brothers; we will join with your great nation; your great Queen shall be our Queen. This affair of Nombre de Dios will fly through our people; now we know you can give us vengeance and drive these robbers away. England shall have all the gold.
DRAKE. The more I see of this river the better I like it—the very haven for a pirate ship.
CHIRUCA. Here, then, I leave you, noble Drake. To morrow (_pointing to the mountains_) before those mountain tops are red with the rising sun, we shall meet at the junction of the streams. Adieu! (_he prepares to leap_)