 | The poems of Dr. Yalden |  |
FABLE IX. THE SEA AND THE BANKS.
As out at sea a ruffling gale it blew,
And clouds o'ercast the gloomy skies:
The surges they began to rise,
And terrify the sailors, jocund crew.
And clouds o'ercast the gloomy skies:
The surges they began to rise,
And terrify the sailors, jocund crew.
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This to the wanton billows was but sport,
They roar'd and gambol'd it along,
This was the burthen of their song,
They'd have a storm, and show good reason for't.
They roar'd and gambol'd it along,
This was the burthen of their song,
They'd have a storm, and show good reason for't.
Then a fresh maggot takes them in the head,
To have one merry jaunt on shore:
They'd not be fetter'd-up, they swore,
But thus to the insulted margin said:
To have one merry jaunt on shore:
They'd not be fetter'd-up, they swore,
But thus to the insulted margin said:
“Hey, slugs! d'ye hear, ye lazy hounds!
Open to right and left! make way,
And give free passage to the Sea,
Down with your ramparts and obstructing mounds.
Open to right and left! make way,
And give free passage to the Sea,
Down with your ramparts and obstructing mounds.
“See how they stir! awake, ye brutes!
And let us have one frisk at land;
Or, 'zbud, we'll wash you into sand,
Without the tedious form of long disputes.”
And let us have one frisk at land;
Or, 'zbud, we'll wash you into sand,
Without the tedious form of long disputes.”
“Hold! soft and fair! the Banks reply'd; we're bound,
In honour, to make good our post:
And will, for all your windy boast,
As barriers to the Sea maintain our ground.
In honour, to make good our post:
And will, for all your windy boast,
As barriers to the Sea maintain our ground.
“Go, lord it in your watery realms, the Main!
There rage and bluster as you please,
Licentious in your native Seas,
But not an inch as trespassers you'll gain.
There rage and bluster as you please,
Licentious in your native Seas,
But not an inch as trespassers you'll gain.
“So, my fierce mutineers, be jogging home!
For if you dare invade our coast,
You'll run your heads against a post,
And shamefully retire in empty foam.”
For if you dare invade our coast,
You'll run your heads against a post,
And shamefully retire in empty foam.”
THE MORAL.
Though Discord forms the elements for war,
Their well-pois'd strength prevents the fatal jar:
Harmonious Nature sets the balance right,
And each compels the other to unite.
Their well-pois'd strength prevents the fatal jar:
Harmonious Nature sets the balance right,
And each compels the other to unite.
In empire thus true union is maintain'd,
Each power's by a subordinate restrain'd:
But when, like raging waves, they overflow
Their stated bounds, and on the weaker grow,
Thrice happy realms! where there are patriots found,
To check invaders, and maintain their ground.
Each power's by a subordinate restrain'd:
But when, like raging waves, they overflow
Their stated bounds, and on the weaker grow,
Thrice happy realms! where there are patriots found,
To check invaders, and maintain their ground.
| The poems of Dr. Yalden | |