University of Virginia Library

Hail Goddess! Guardian of our happy Isle,
Happy; whilst thou remains immoveable,
Nor leaves Britannia for another Clime.
The Hermit, settl'd in his small Domain,
Contemplates ev'ry Morning, Noon, and Night,
The little Fortune he can call his own.
Where Thou resides, e'en Poverty looks pleasing,
Smiles at its State, and thinks it far exceeds
The golden Fetters of the Slave-born Great.
Hence float in Numbers on the furrow'd Deep
Enormous Ships, and brave the angry Tide.
For fear of loosing Thee, each nimble Tar
Spurns the soft Pleasures of the Grot and Grove;
Leaves the thick shaded Bow'rs, for love-sick Swains,
And gay deck't Meads, for Flocks to graze upon.
To These prefers the horrid Din of Arms;
'Till Vengeance, taken on th' Incroacher's Head,
Calms his rough Soul, and bids Resentment cease.
Keen to pursue the glorious Task of Honour,
And disengage him of inglorious Ease;
With no less Joy he leaves the less'ning Shores,
Than wou'd a Mariner, who, tempted forth
By greedy Views, shipwreck'd; has lost his All:
And 'midst Despair, finds out some friendly Barge,
Safe to transport him to his Native Home,
And long expecting Parents.—
Dauntless he climbs the stately tow'ring Mast,
Nor fears the Rage of boist'rous ÆOLUS
Heaving the foaming Surges to the Skies:
Still, unappall'd, he overlooks the Deep,
Defies its Pow'r, and steers against the Wind;
Chearful and Gay, as if some happier Change
Were to compensate this his rugged Voyage;
Tho' well he knows, 'tis but a phantom'd Sketch,
Prelude of Scenes more terrible t'ensue.
Where, like succeeding Claps of frightful Thunder,
The loaded Cannon, equally pernicious,
Roars in the Bowels of the shatter'd Gallies.
Where Fire and Smoke thick-gath'ring dismal roll
In dusky Wreaths and cloud the livid Sky.
Nay 'twou'd require that Antient Poet's Pen;
(Who soaring high upon the Wings of Thought
Sung the vast Ruin of a once fam'd TROY,)
To paint the gloomy Horrors of the Deep,
When mighty Sovereigns assert their Right.
By Sea and Land what have not Brittons fac'd!
Bravely to die, or shun a harsher Fate?
When in his Father's and his Country's Cause,
Th' undaunted WILLIAM boldly sally'd forth,
And bid Defiance to the Pow'rs of France:
Illustrious Chief! my too-aspiring Muse
Shall ne'er impair the Greatness of the Deed:
But long as PHOEBUS with extended Rays,
Continues to illuminate the Globe,
And paler CYNTHIA, with her starry Train,
Shall gild with feebler Rays the peaceful Night;
From Age to Age the World shall tell the Tale,
And thy own Actions speak thy future Praise.
Heroes, as yet unborn, in future Days,
Shall in the faithful Records of Old-Time,
Read thy great Acts, and wonder as they read.