British Wonders Or, A Poetical Description of the Several Prodigies and Most Remarkable Accidents That have happen'd in Britain since the Death of Queen Anne [by Edward Ward] |
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 | British Wonders |  |
No sooner did this Wonder cease,
Or fade, as Day-light did encrease,
But Fame from Ireland did report
An Omen of another sort,
Consisting of two mighty Shoals
Of monstrous Fish, as big as Bulls,
Who meeting on the Irish Coast,
Most fiercely charg'd each others Host,
Fighting a Battle near the Shore,
That dy'd the Ocean with their Gore,
And chang'd, by their repeated Valour,
The Sea-green, to a Sanguine Colour.
Like angry Rams they clash'd their Heads,
Rebounding in their watry Beds,
Casting aloft, from batter'd Snouts,
And broken Gills, such crimson Spouts,
As if they spew'd up Claret Wine,
Or fought in Blood, instead of Brine.
Or fade, as Day-light did encrease,
But Fame from Ireland did report
An Omen of another sort,
Consisting of two mighty Shoals
Of monstrous Fish, as big as Bulls,
Who meeting on the Irish Coast,
Most fiercely charg'd each others Host,
Fighting a Battle near the Shore,
That dy'd the Ocean with their Gore,
And chang'd, by their repeated Valour,
The Sea-green, to a Sanguine Colour.
Like angry Rams they clash'd their Heads,
Rebounding in their watry Beds,
Casting aloft, from batter'd Snouts,
And broken Gills, such crimson Spouts,
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Or fought in Blood, instead of Brine.
Some, large as Elephants, display'd
Huge Tushes sprouting from the Head.
By force of which they over-run
Their Foes, and eat 'em when they'd done.
Huge Tushes sprouting from the Head.
By force of which they over-run
Their Foes, and eat 'em when they'd done.
Others, like Ships in stormy Weather,
Fell foul, Broad-side and Side together,
And Jostl'd till the biggest Foe,
Made the Less plow the Seas below.
So Armies, with their Foot and Horse,
Subdue their weaker Foes by force,
And make the Cause, which they espouse,
Not good by Reas'ning, but by Blows.
Fell foul, Broad-side and Side together,
And Jostl'd till the biggest Foe,
Made the Less plow the Seas below.
So Armies, with their Foot and Horse,
Subdue their weaker Foes by force,
And make the Cause, which they espouse,
Not good by Reas'ning, but by Blows.
Thus mighty Fish with Fish contended,
Some rising up, whilst some descended,
Boldly relieving one another,
As one brave Soldier would his Brother,
Whilst wounded Monsters swam on Shore,
For Breath, and perish'd in their Gore.
Some rising up, whilst some descended,
Boldly relieving one another,
As one brave Soldier would his Brother,
Whilst wounded Monsters swam on Shore,
For Breath, and perish'd in their Gore.
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Nor did one Day decide the Quarrel,
Or give to either Host the Laurel,
But as the Sun return'd his Light,
They still renew'd their bloody Fight,
Till length of Time and loss of Blood,
Made all the Scaly Troops think good
To leave the Empire of the Main
Unsettl'd, till they met again.
That future Contests might decide
The right of Rule, for which they try'd.
Thus as proud Heroes fight on Shore,
And struggle for superior Pow'r,
So Monsters battle in the Sea,
For needful Food and Sovereignty.
Or give to either Host the Laurel,
But as the Sun return'd his Light,
They still renew'd their bloody Fight,
Till length of Time and loss of Blood,
Made all the Scaly Troops think good
To leave the Empire of the Main
Unsettl'd, till they met again.
That future Contests might decide
The right of Rule, for which they try'd.
Thus as proud Heroes fight on Shore,
And struggle for superior Pow'r,
So Monsters battle in the Sea,
For needful Food and Sovereignty.
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