149 Our careful monarch stands in person by, His new-cast cannons' firmness to explore: 150 Each day brings fresh supplies of arms and men, 151 The goodly London in her gallant trim (The Phoenix daughter of the vanish'd old), Like a rich bride does to the ocean swim, And on her shadow rides in floating. gold. 152 Her flag aloft spread ruffling to the wind, 1 And sanguine streamers seem the flood to fire; 153 With roomy decks, her guns of mighty strength, Whose low-laid mouths each mounting billow laves ; 154 This martial present, piously design'd, The loyal city give their best-loved King: Built, fitted, and maintain'd, to aid him bring. 155 By viewing Nature, Nature's handmaid, Art, Makes mighty things from small beginnings grow: Thus fishes first to shipping did impart, Their tail the rudder, and their head the prow. 156 Some log perhaps upon the waters swam, And cross some riv 'let passage did begin. 157 In shipping such as this, the Irish kern, And untaught Indian, on the stream did glide: Ere sharp-keel'd boats to stem the flood did learn, Or fin-like oars did spread from either side. 158 Add but a sail, and Saturn so appear'd, 159 Rude as their ships was navigation then; And knew no North but when the Pole-star shone. 160 Of all who since have used the open sea, Than the bold English none more fame have won : 161 But what so long in vain, and yet unknown, By poor mankind's benighted wit is sought Shall in this age to Britain first be shown, And hence be to admiring nations taught. 162 The ebbs of tides and their mysterious flow, We, as art's elements, shall understand, And as by line upon the ocean go, Whose paths shall be familiar as the land. 163 Instructed ships shall sail to quick commerce, By which remotest regions are allied; Which makes one city of the universe, Where some may gain, and all may be supplied. 164 Then we upon our globe's last verge shall go, 165 This I foretell from your auspicious care, Who great in search of God and nature grow ; Who best your wise Creator's praise declare, Since best to praise his works is best to know. 166 O truly royal! who behold the law And rule of beings in your Maker's mind: 167 But first the toils of war we must endure, 168 Already were the Belgians on our coast, Whose fleet more mighty every day became 169 Designing, subtle, diligent, and close, They knew to manage war with wise delay : 170 Nor stay'd the English long; but, well supplied, The combat now by courage must be tried, 171 There was the Plymouth squadron now come in, 172 Old expert Allen,1 loyal all along, Famed for his action on the Smyrna fleet: 173 Holmes, the Achates2 of the general's fight; Who first bewitch'd our eyes with Guinea gold; As once old Cato in the Roman sight The tempting fruits of Afric did unfold. 174 With him went Spragge, as bountiful as brave, 175 Young Hollis, on a Muse by Mars begot, Born, Cæsar-like, to write and act great deeds: Impatient to revenge his fatal shot, His right hand doubly to his left succeeds. 176 Thousands were there in darker fame that dwell, Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn : And, though to me unknown, they sure fought well Whom Rupert led, and who were British born. Allen: Sir Thomas Allen, admiral of the white. Sir Robert Holmes was rear-admiral of the white. 2 The Achates: ' 177 Of every size an hundred fighting sail : And with its weight it shoulders off the tides. 178 Now anchors weigh'd, the seamen shout so shrill, 179 The wary Dutch this gathering storm foresaw, 180 So the false spider, when her nets are spread, 181 Then if at last she find him fast beset, She issues forth and runs along her loom: 182 The Belgians hoped, that, with disorder'd haste, Our deep-cut keels upon the sands might run: Or, if with caution leisurely were past, Their numerous gross might charge us one by one. 183 But with a fore-wind pushing them above, And swelling tide that heaved them from below, O'er the blind flats our warlike squadrons move, And with spread sails to welcome battle go. |