In the Mediterranean Ocean, early in 1797, The Dragonfly was leeward (downwind) of the two frigates and could not sail directly towards the battle. Their consort the jack-ass frigate of 28 guns was pistol-shot from the 36 gun French frigate Aréthuse and the two were hammering away at each other, the Griffin could not sustain that kind of punishment...
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As the Dragonfly sailed away, the wind not serving,
the mighty roar from the two ship, neither swerving.
A Jackass Frigate of twenty-eight guns, English pride flying,
her men heroically plying the guns, sweating, swearing and dying.

The French Aréthuse of thirty-six was feeling the sting,
her decks bloody, guns overturned and the Mainyard hanging by the sling,
But they had a bigger ship, bigger crew, bigger gun,
their victory was clear, it would not be undone.

We sweated and plied, sailed and cried, the fray to bring the Dragonfly in,
around came the wheel, the men worked with a cheer, to abandon their own was a sin.
As we worked our way back, the Dragonfly sailed and she tacked
the halliards squealed the rigging hummed, the sails bellowed and cracked.