Thy Navy Rides on Seas before unpreft, And strikes a terror through the Haughty Eaft; Algiers and Tunis from their fultry fhore
With horror hear the British engines roar,
Fain from the neighb'ring dangers wou'd they run,
And wish themselves ftill Nearer to the Sun.
The Gallic Ships are in their Ports confin'd,
Deny'd the common ufe of Sea and Wind,
Nor dare again the British Strength engage;
Still they remember that Deftructive rage
Which lately made their trembling host retire,
Stunn'd with the noise, and wrapt in Smoke and Fire; The Waves with wide unnumber'd wrecks were ftrow'd, And Planks, and Arms, and Men, promifcuous flow'd.
Spain's numerous Fleet that perifh'd on our Coast,
Cou'd scarce a longer Line of battle boaft,
The Winds cou'd hardly drive 'em to their Fate,
And all the Ocean labour'd with the weight.
Where-e'er the Waves in restlefs errors roll,
The Sea lies open now to either Pole:
Now may we fafely use the Northern gales,
And in the Polar Circle fpread our fails:
Or deep in Southern climes, Secure from wars,
New Lands explore, and fail by Other ftars:
Fetch Uncontroll'd each labour of the Sun,
And make the product of the World our own,
At length, Proud Prince, Ambitious Lewis, cease
To plague mankind, and trouble Europe's peace;
Think on the Structures which thy Pride has rafe'd,
On Towns unpeopled, and on Fields laid wafte;
Think on the heaps of corps, and streams of blood,
On every guilty plain, and purple flood,
Thy Arms have made, and cease an impious War,
Nor waste the Lives intrufted to thy Care.
Or if no Milder thought can calm thy mind,
Behold the great Avenger of mankind,
See mighty NASSAU through the Battle ride,
And fee thy Subjects gafping by his fide:
Fain wou'd the pious Prince refuse th' Alarm,
Fain wou'd he check the Fury of his Arm;
But when thy Cruelties his thoughts engage,
The Hero kindles with becoming rage,
Then Countries ftoln, and Captives unreftor'd,
Give Strength to ev'ry blow, and edge his Sword.
Behold with what refiftlefs force he falls
On towns befieg'd, and thunders at thy walls!
Ask Villeroy, for Villeroy beheld
The Town furrender'd, and the Treaty feal'd;
With what amazing strength the Forts were won,
Whilft the whole Pow'r of France ftood looking on.
But ftop not here: behold where Berkley ftands, And executes his injur'd King's commands;
Around thy coaft his burfting Bombs he pours
On flaming Citadels, and falling Tow'rs;
With hizzing streams of fire the air they streak,
And hurl destruction round 'em where they break,
The Skies with long afcending Flames are bright,
And all the Sea reflects a quivering light.
Thus Etna, when in fierce Eruptions broke, Fills Heav'n with Ashes, and the Earth with Smoke; Here Crags of broken Rocks are twirl'd on high, Here molten Stones and fcatter'd Cinders fly: Its fury reaches the remotest coast,
And ftrows the Afiatic fhore with Duft.
Now does the Sailor from the Neighb'ring Main
Look after Gallic Towns and Forts in vain;
No more his wonted Marks he can defcry,
But fees a long unmeafur'd Ruin lie;
Whilft, pointing to the Naked coaft, he fhows
His wondring Mates where Towns and Steeples rofe, Where crowded Citizens he lately view'd,
And fingles out the place where once St. Maloes food.
Here Ruffel's Actions should my Mufe require; And would my ftrength but fecond my defire, I'd all his boundlefs Bravery rehearse,
And draw his Cannons thund'ring in my verfe;
High on the deck fhou'd the great Leader ftand,
Wrath in his Look, and Light'ning in his Hand;
Like Homer's Hector when he flung his Fire
Amidst a thousand Ships, and made all Greece retire.
But who can run the British Triumphs o'er,
And count the Flames difperst on ev'ry Shore ?
Who can defcribe the scatter'd Victory,
And draw the Reader on from Sea to Sea?
Elfe who cou'd Ormond's God-like A&ts refufe,
Ormond the theme of ev'ry Oxford Mufe?
Fain wou'd I here his mighty Worth proclaim,
Attend him in the noble chafe of Fame,
Through all the Noife and Hurry of the Fight,
Obferve each blow, and keep him still in fight.
Oh, did our British Peers thus court Renown,
And grace the Coats their great Fore-fathers won!
Our arms wou'd then triumphantly advance,
Nor Henry be the last that conquer'd France.
What might not England hope, if fuch abroad
Purchas'd their country's honour with their Blood:
When fuch, detain'd at home, fupport our State
In WILLIAM's ftead, and bear a Kingdom's weight,
The Schemes of Gallic Policy o'erthrow,
And blaft the Counfels of the common Foe;
Direct our Armies, and diftribute Right,
And render our MARIA's Lofs more light.
But ftop, my Muse, th' ungrateful found forbear,
MARIA's name still wounds each British Ear :
Each British Heart MARIA ftill does wound,
And Tears burst out unbidden at the found;
MARIA ftill our rifing Mirth destroys,
Darkens our Triumphs, and forbids our Joys.
But fee, at length, the British Ships appear!' Our NASSAU comes! and as his Fleet draws near, The rifing Mafts advance, the Sails grow white, And all his Pompous Navy floats in fight. Come, mighty Prince, defir'd of Britain, come! May Heav'n's propitious gales attend thee home!" Come, and let longing crowds behold that Look, Which fuch Confufion and Amazement ftrook Through Gallic hofts: But, oh! let Us defcry Mirth in thy Brow, and Pleasure in thy Eye ;; Let nothing Dreadful in thy face be found, But for a while forget the Trumpet's found; Well pleas'd, thy People's Loyalty approve,, Accept their Duty, and enjoy their Love. For as when lately mov'd with fierce delight, You plung'd amidst the Tumult of the fight, Whole heaps of Death encompass'd you around', And Steeds o'er-turn'd lay foaming on the ground';; So Crown'd with Laurels now, where- e'er you go, Around you blooming Joys, and peaceful Bleffings flow..
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