 | The Poems of Ambrose Philips |  |
From the smooth Terrass as He casts his Eye,
And sees the Current Sea-ward rolling by;
What schemes of Commerce rise in his Designs.
Pledges of Wealth! and unexhausted Mines!
Through Winds and Waves, beneath inclement Skies,
Where Stars, distinguish'd by no Name, arise,
Our Fleets shall undiscover'd Lands explore,
And a New People hear our Cannons roar.
And sees the Current Sea-ward rolling by;
What schemes of Commerce rise in his Designs.
Pledges of Wealth! and unexhausted Mines!
Through Winds and Waves, beneath inclement Skies,
Where Stars, distinguish'd by no Name, arise,
Our Fleets shall undiscover'd Lands explore,
And a New People hear our Cannons roar.
The Rivers long in ancient Story fam'd
Shall flow obscure, nor with the Thames be nam'd:
Nor shall our Poets copy from their Praise,
And Nymphs and Syrens to thy Honour raise;
Nor make thy Banks with Tritons Shells resound,
Nor bind thy Brows with humble Sedges round:
But paint Thee as thou art; a Peopled Stream!
The Boast of Merchants, and the Sailor's Theme!
Whose spreading Flood unnumber'd Ships sustain,
And pour whole Towns afloat into the Main;
While the redundant Seas waft up fresh Stores,
The daily tribute of far-distant Shores.
Shall flow obscure, nor with the Thames be nam'd:
Nor shall our Poets copy from their Praise,
And Nymphs and Syrens to thy Honour raise;
Nor make thy Banks with Tritons Shells resound,
Nor bind thy Brows with humble Sedges round:
But paint Thee as thou art; a Peopled Stream!
The Boast of Merchants, and the Sailor's Theme!
Whose spreading Flood unnumber'd Ships sustain,
And pour whole Towns afloat into the Main;
99
The daily tribute of far-distant Shores.
| The Poems of Ambrose Philips | |