Why should the soldier or sailor—back stripped—
Be tied to the halberds, or grating, and whipped;
While the “officer”—acting, perhaps, very much worse,
Is secured from the lash by the strength of the purse?
By the strength of the purse! for to what, but to that,
Does he own his commission, signed, sealed, and all that?
So raise the stern cry, nor till death let it fall:—
“The Lash be for none—or the Lash be for all!”

A commission to flog, and howe’er he transgress,
The laws of his trade, or bright honor oppress–
The lash ne’er taste himself!—’Tis a homage to pelf,
Which should long, long ago have been tossed on the shelf,
Which not all the fine talk in the world could make right,
And against which ’tis high time Britannia should fight.
So raise, &c.

Were officers flogged when the lash they deserve,
The same as the poor folks who under them serve,
They’d take very good care that all matters were fair—
That the whip not too ruthlessly ploughed the back bare—
That its nine cords, so oft now with humble gore clotted,
Nor too hard, nor too thick were, nor brutally knotted.
So raise, &c.

So as aught to exceed in their truculence those
Held lawful, when Wall’s life approached its grim close
Then, too, heed would be taken that the Mutiny Act,
Should not be made the subject of treacherous tact—
That, of floggable crimes to the list dire and dread,
Not one should steal in, undebated, unread.
So raise, &c.

While, moreover, no doubt, ’twould be quickly found out,
By the knaves in high places, whom Europe should scout,
That all retrospective severe legislation,
’Gainst rich or ’gainst poor, is abhored by the nation.
For these reasons, with others ’twere long I declare,
I call on all women—just, fearless, and fair—
So raise, &c.
The lash be for all—or the lash be for none!—
If Eve’s daughters but will it—the battle is won!
So raise, &c.