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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Now Zephyrus with Anger swell'd,
And with his Breath the Tide repell'd,
Forcing the gentle Thames to fly
Those Bounds she us'd to occupy;
And with a fierce and rapid Motion,
T'incorp'rate with the briny Ocean,
Where She for sev'ral Days remain'd,
And left her native Channel drain'd
So dry, where Barges us'd to float,
That Numbers cross'd without a Boat,
And in their Walks upon the Strand,
Found Things of Value in the Sand,
Which Thieves into the Thames had tost,
Or some by Carelesness had lost.
And with his Breath the Tide repell'd,
Forcing the gentle Thames to fly
Those Bounds she us'd to occupy;
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T'incorp'rate with the briny Ocean,
Where She for sev'ral Days remain'd,
And left her native Channel drain'd
So dry, where Barges us'd to float,
That Numbers cross'd without a Boat,
And in their Walks upon the Strand,
Found Things of Value in the Sand,
Which Thieves into the Thames had tost,
Or some by Carelesness had lost.
Now Ladies walk'd where Streams should flow,
And Boats and Barges us'd to Row;
There exercis'd their nimble Heels,
On Sandy Beds for Fish and Eeles,
And where Thames Salmon, when beset,
Lay skulking to avoid the Net.
The Boatmen now forsook their Stations,
And chang'd their Rowing Occupations,
Carr'd heavy Loads, like Men of Stature,
And ply'd by Land, instead of Water.
As Whores decay'd and past their Labours,
Turn Bawds, and so assist their Neighbours.
And Boats and Barges us'd to Row;
There exercis'd their nimble Heels,
On Sandy Beds for Fish and Eeles,
And where Thames Salmon, when beset,
Lay skulking to avoid the Net.
The Boatmen now forsook their Stations,
And chang'd their Rowing Occupations,
Carr'd heavy Loads, like Men of Stature,
And ply'd by Land, instead of Water.
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Turn Bawds, and so assist their Neighbours.
Nor did this boist'rous Wind alone,
Blow Rivers dry, that Eastward run,
But forc'd the Sea to break its Bounds,
And swallow sundry Tracts of Grounds:
Huge Barns it overset with ease,
Blow'd Houses down, and plow'd up Trees,
And made the rowling Ocean rise
So near the Arches of the Skies,
That sundry Vessels dug their Graves,
And founder'd in the clashing Waves,
Whilst Crowds contended to devour
The Shipwrecks that were thrown ashore.
As Women do on Armies wait,
To Plunder those that meet their Fate.
Blow Rivers dry, that Eastward run,
But forc'd the Sea to break its Bounds,
And swallow sundry Tracts of Grounds:
Huge Barns it overset with ease,
Blow'd Houses down, and plow'd up Trees,
And made the rowling Ocean rise
So near the Arches of the Skies,
That sundry Vessels dug their Graves,
And founder'd in the clashing Waves,
Whilst Crowds contended to devour
The Shipwrecks that were thrown ashore.
As Women do on Armies wait,
To Plunder those that meet their Fate.
Tiles from the tops of Houses blown,
And Chimney-Bricks came ratt'ling down,
Whilst frighted Mortals skulk'd below,
In dread of some destructive Blow.
Till Providence restrain'd the Storm
From doing Mankind further Harm,
And once more bless'd our longing Eyes,
With gentle Winds and pleasing Skies.
And Chimney-Bricks came ratt'ling down,
Whilst frighted Mortals skulk'd below,
In dread of some destructive Blow.
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From doing Mankind further Harm,
And once more bless'd our longing Eyes,
With gentle Winds and pleasing Skies.
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