Dan's Epitaph

Dan, he's dead, as I used to know In the ol' Thermopylae years ago; Nobody'll trouble to fix no stones Nor plant no plants over ol' Dan's bones, Nor print no cards with a black edge round, Nor shove wax flowers atop of 'is mound; But I reckon there's chaps both near an' far, In Charley Brown's or the Paragon Bar, From London River to Hobson's Bay, As'll set their drinks down a minute an' say: - 'Wot, ol' Dan dead as I used to know In the Thermopylae long ago (or the Star o' Greece , or the Heir o' Linne , Or some other o' them as Dan was in)? 'E was a decent shipmate too, Darned good shipmate 's ever I knew; 'E earned 'is whack an' 'e earned it straight, 'E stood 'is trick an' 'e pulled 'is weight; An' I don't think ever I seen the man Could make long splices the like o' Dan.' Well, I 'ope they'll say when I come to die As much for me as for Dan, say I!