- description
- # Commemorative of a Naval Victory.
## Overview
"Commemorative of a Naval Victory." is a poem segment from the collection "[Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9)". It was extracted from the file "[battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8)" and is part of the larger "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)" collection. The segment appears after the poem "On a natural Monument" and before "Presentation to the Authorities,".
## Context
This poem is part of "[Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.](arke:01KG8AJ6FNQ0XKWBY52P8DRPC9)", a collection of poems by Herman Melville that reflects on the American Civil War. The collection was published in 1866 and is included within the comprehensive "[Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW)". The source file for this segment is "[battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt](arke:01KG89J1G8S4TRWXNCBRKCRKS8)".
## Contents
The poem reflects on the nature of victory and the experiences of sailors. It contrasts the "gentlest breed" of sailors with their strength and discipline, honed by the sea and arms. The verses explore the aftermath of victory, where a celebrated warrior finds favor and repose, his deeds lending a "festal fame." However, the poem also acknowledges the somber reality that accompanies triumph, noting that "seldom the laurel wreath is seen / Unmixed with pensive pansies dark." It suggests that even in victory, there is a shadow of loss and the memory of fallen comrades, symbolized by the "spirits which glad had hailed his worth, / Sleep in oblivion."
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:25.341Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- Commemorative of a Naval Victory.
- end_line
- 3687
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:35.911Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 3653
- text
- Commemorative of a Naval Victory.
Sailors there are of gentlest breed,
Yet strong, like every goodly thing;
The discipline of arms refines,
And the wave gives tempering.
The damasked blade its beam can fling;
It lends the last grave grace:
The hawk, the hound, and sworded nobleman
In Titian’s picture for a king,
Are of Hunter or warrior race.
In social halls a favored guest
In years that follow victory won,
How sweet to feel your festal fame,
In woman’s glance instinctive thrown:
Repose is yours--your deed is known,
It musks the amber wine;
It lives, and sheds a litle from storied days
Rich as October sunsets brown,
Which make the barren place to shine.
But seldom the laurel wreath is seen
Unmixed with pensive pansies dark;
There’s a light and a shadow on every man
Who at last attains his lifted mark--
Nursing through night the ethereal spark.
Elate he never can be;
He feels that spirits which glad had hailed his worth,
Sleep in oblivion.--The shark
Glides white through the prosphorus sea.
- title
- Commemorative of a Naval Victory.