For out of many ventures
  That sailed with hope as high,
My own have made the better trade,
  And Admiral am I.

To me my King’s much honour,
  To me my people’s love—
To me the pride of Princes
  And power all pride above;
To me the shouting cities,
  To me the mob’s refrain:—
“Who knows not noble Valdez,
  Hath never heard of Spain.”

But I remember comrades—
  Old playmates on new seas—
Whenas we traded orpiment
  Among the savages—
A thousand leagues to south’ard
  And thirty years removed—
They knew not noble Valdez,
  But me they knew and loved.

Then they that found good liquor,
  They drank it not alone,
And they that found fair plunder,
  They told us every one,
About our chosen islands
  Or secret shoals between,
When, weary from far voyage,
  We gathered to careen.

There burned our breaming-fagots
  All pale along the shore:
There rose our worn pavilions—
  A sail above an oar;