University of Virginia Library

On the undaunted Courage of a Shipwrackt Captain.

Hark how the roaring Winds, (great God of Thunder,)
Exalt the briny Floods, to tear a sunder
Our well rig'd Vessel riding on the Main,
Whose lofty threatned Pendant does disdain
Proud Neptunes angry Power, and awful wrath,
Dashing the boldest of his Waves to Froth.
Which when the King of Floods with anger saw,
His awful Trident scorning to withdraw,
He summon'd all the Waves, and did implore
The Eolean aid, which made the Winds to roar.
Now like to Mountains rise the Waves on high,
Tossing the nimble Vessel to the Skie;
Then by a great descent she falls again
Into the gaping Bowels of the Main.
No voice is heard, in vain they spend their Breath,
Two Elements at once conspire their Death.
The Mariners are stupifi'd with fear,
The skilful Pilot knows not how to steer.
The Ocean boils, and, to augment the rage,
The Winds from ev'ry Point the Floods engage.
Heavens face is cover'd with a Veil of Night,
The Thunder bearing Clouds ejected Light
From all Parts flies, and in this wretched state,
Presents to all an unavoided Fate.
Which when the Captain saw, he gaz'd a while,
To see their manly Courage thus recoil;
And with more Pow'r than Neptune, which doth sway
His wat'ry Trident, which the Waves obey,
His loud Imperial voice commands a peace,
Whose Eccho stops the Waves, and makes them cease.
Or like fierce Mars, with an undaunted minde,
As if their God the wat'ry Realm did bind,
He cuts the smiling Ocean, and does stand
As the Supream that Governs Sea and Land.
Now by this time a frighted Wave appears
At Neptune's Court, relating all their fears;
Telling, some mighty God usurp'd his Seat,
And all the Waves lay prostrate at his Feet.
The Sea-green God all in a rage appears,
And the shrill Trytons Visage anger bears;
The Mermaids skip and dance about the Boat,
Which Seamen say does dreadful Storms denote,
And so it was. The Misty Shades of Night
All on a sudden robb'd 'em of the Light.
The Heavens began to roare, the Waves arise,
Dashing their briny Floods against the Skies.
The Captain strives in vain the Ship to save,
While on each side appears a threatning Grave.
There's no cessation, VVaves the VVaves out-vies,
And threaten Heaven with their batteries.
VVhat shou'd they do, poor men? their Courage fails,
And all their hopes are shatter'd as their Sails.
They all stand stupifi'd, like senseless stocks,
VVhilst the craz'd Vessel's dash'd against the Rocks.
The Captain then, with a Couragious motion,
Leaps in the raging Bowels of the Ocean,
And with his threatning Sword he cuts the Waves,
The raging Floods with Valour he outbraves;
And swimming to the Shoar, his Sword he shakes,
Whereat the roaring Sea retires and quakes.
But all his men, alas! like silly Sheep,
Sink to the bottom of the swelling Deep.
Yet he's ne're daunted, his firm Soul stands fast
Upon its Basis, stedfast to the last.
What Noble Hero ever cou'd do more
Than be o're Land and Sea a Conquerour?