54*. Our fleet divides, and straight the Dutch ap pear, In number, and a fam'd commander, bold: The narrow feas can fcarce their navy bear, 215 Or crowded veffels can their foldiers hold. 55. The Duke, lefs numerous, but in courage more, 56. Both furl their fails, and ftrip them for the fight; Their folded fheets difmifs the ufelefs air: Th'Elean plains could boaft no nobler fight, When ftruggling champions did their bodies bare. 57. Born each by other in a diftant line, 225 The fea-built forts in dreadful order move: So vaft the noise, as if not fleets did join, But lands unfix'd, and floating nations ftrove. 58. Now pafs'd, on either fide they nimbly tack; Both strive to intercept and guide the wind: * Duke of Albemarle's battle, firft day. Orig. cd. Ver. 223. Th' Elean, &c.] Where the Olympic games were celebrated. Orig, ed. And, in its eye, more clofely they come back, To finish all the deaths they left behind. 59. 232 On high-rais'd decks the haughty Belgians ride, Beneath whose shade our humble frigates go: Such port the elephant bears, and fo defy'd 235 By the rhinoceros her unequal foe. 60. And as the built, fo different is the fight; Their mounting fhot is on our fails defign'd: Deep in their hulls our deadly bullets light, And through the yielding planks a paffage find. 61. 240 Our dreaded admiral from far they threat, Whofe batter'd rigging their whole war re ceives: All bare, like fome old oak which tempefts beat, He ftands, and fees below his fcatter'd leaves. Ver. 236. By the rhinoceros, &c.] The enmity between the elephant and rhinoceros is thus defcribed in Franzius's Hiftoria Animalium, &c. 12mo. Amft. 1665, p. 93.-" Naturale eft odium inter Elephantum et Rhinocerotem, ita ut invicem certent, et quidem in ipfa pugna rhinoceros unicè dat operam, ut alvum Elephanti tanquam partem molliorem petat, ficut etiam tandem vincit Elephantum, contra quem fuo cornu, quod in nari habet, audaciffimè pugnat. Tergum etiam habet fcutulatum, et quafi variis clypeis munitum, unde etiam æftimari poteft fortitudo hujus beftiæ. Hæc bellua paulò humilior eft Elephanto, fi altitudidinem fpectes, &c." Thus we fee the propriety of Dryden's fi mile-her unequal foe, &c. TODD. Ver. 243. All bare, like fome old oak which tempefts beat, Heftands, and fees below his scatter'd leaves.] 62. Heroes of old, when wounded, shelter fought; 63. At this excefs of courage, all amaz'd, The foremoft of his foes awhile withdraw: 250 With fuch respect in enter'd Rome they gaz'd, Who on high chairs the god-like fathers faw. 64. And now, as where Patroclus' body lay, Greek; 254 Ours o'er the Duke their pious wings display, And theirs the nobleft spoils of Britain feels. This is Virgil's fimile comprefs'd, Lib. 4. 441. Ac velut annofo validam cùm robore quercum JOHN WARTON. Ver. 255. Ours o'er the Duke] Waller wrote a long poem on the victory obtained over the Dutch by the Duke of York, June 3, 1665, in imitation of a poem of Francefco Bufenello, addreffed to Pietro Liberi, inftructing him to paint the famous feafight between the Turks and Venetians, near the Dardanelles, in the year 1656. The Duke of York urged the neceflity of this war, not only becaufe, as well as his brother, he hated the Dutch, but also because he wished for an opportunity of fignalizing him as an Admiral, as he well understood fea-affairs. Clarendon and Southampton conftantly oppofed this war. The Dutch admiral's ship blew up just as he was clofely engaged. Dr. J. WARTON. 65. Meantime his busy mariners he hastes, 66. Straight to the Dutch he turns his dreadful prow, More fierce th' important quarrel to decide: Like fwans, in long array his veffels show, Whofe crefts advancing do the waves divide. 67: They charge, recharge, and all along the fea They drive, and fquander the huge Belgian fleet. Berkley alone, who neareft danger lay, Did a like fate with loft Crëufa meet. 68. The night comes on, we eager to pursue 266 269 The combat still, and they afham'd to leave: Ver. 267. Berkley alone, &c.] Among other remarkable paffages in this engagement, the undaunted refolution of vice-admiral Berkley was particularly admired. He had many men killed on board him, and though no longer able to make refiftance, yet would obftinately continue the fight, refusing quarter to the laft. Being at length thot in the throat with a musketbali, he retired to his cabin, where, ftretching himfelf on a great table, he expired; and in that pofture did the enemy, who afterwards took the ship, find the body covered with blood. DERRICK. Ver. 269. The night comes on,] The four next ftanzas are worth the reader's particular attention; and the contrast betwixt the Till the laft ftreaks of dying day withdrew, ceive. 69. In th' English fleet each ship resounds with joy, fame: 274 In fiery dreams the Dutch they still destroy, 70. Not fo the Holland fleet, who, tired and done, run; Vast bulks which little fouls but ill supply. 71. In dreams they fearful precipices tread : 279 Or, fhipwreck'd, labor to fome diftant fhore: feelings of the triumphant English and conquered Dutch strongly Ver. 280. Vaft bulks which little fouls but ill fupply.] So Milton, in the fpirited speech which he gives to Samfon as an anfwer to the cowardly language of the giant Harapha, Sam. Agon. ver. 1237. Go, baffled coward! left I run upon thee, TODD. Ver. 281. In dreams, &c.] Probably alluding to Virgil, Æn. iv. 465. "Agit ipfe furentem "In fomnis ferus Æneas: femperque relinqui TODD. |