Indignation at the Sophie‘s treatment was not confined to the sloop, but naturally it was strongest there, and as the crew heaved the capstan round to unmoor they sang a new song, a song that owed nothing whatever to Mr Mowett’s chaste muse.

Fuck old Harte, Fuck old Harte,
That red-faced son of a dry French fart.
Hey ho, stamp and go,
Stamp and go, stamp and go,
Hey ho, stamp and go.

The cross-legged fifer on the capstan-head lowered his pipe and sang the quiet solo part:

Says old Harte to his missis
O what do I see?
Bold Sophie’s commander
With his fiddle-dee-dee.

Then the deep cross rhythmical bellow again

Fuck old Harte, Fuck old Harte,
That one-eyed son of a blue French fart.

– Master and Commander – Patrick O’Brian