Some days my three brain cells just rattle around inside my skull and other days they are like pinballs on speed.
Today a friend wrote on FB that "they won't go down with the ship, won't put up their hands and surrender". Pinball triggered.
First I had to reread Tennyson's "The Revenge, a Ballad of the Fleet" for the umpteenth time. There was a time I could quote a fair bit of it, alas no longer. Then I decided for my own satisfaction to finally look up the pronunciation of pinnace (if you care, it is like pin-ass). Then I ended up in Wiki, reading about pinnaces, then Sir Richard Grenville, then the Revenge, then the Mary Rose. From there to naval batteries and on to naval tactics under sail (hence ship of the line, ship of the battle line and battle ship). Jump to Dreadnaught followed by the Battle of Jutland or vice versa, I forget which.
Two hours gone before you know it.
You're welcome!
ReplyDeleteBut Sir Richard cried in his English pride:
Delete“We have fought such a fight for a day and a night
As may never be fought again!
We have won great glory, my men!
And a day less or more
At sea or ashore,
We die—does it matter when?
Sink me the ship, Master Gunner—sink her, split her in twain!
Fall into the hands of God, not into the hands of Spain!”
I understand: sometimes our minds seem to control themselves.
ReplyDeletethe Ol'Buzzard