IV.

The fun but feem'd the lab'rer of the year;

* Each waxing moon supply'd her watry store,
To fwell thofe tides, which from the line did bear
Their brim-full veffels to the Belgian fhore.
V.

Thus, mighty in her fhips, stood Carthage long,
And fwept the riches of the world from far;
Yet ftoop'd to Rome, lefs wealthy, but more ftrong :
And this may prove our fecond Punic war.

VI.

What peace can be, where both to one pretend?
(But they more diligent, and we more strong)

Or if a peace, it soon must have an end;

For they would grow too powerful, were it long.

VII.

Behold two nations then, engag'd fo far,

That each feven years the fit must shake each land: Where France will fide to weaken us by war,

Who only can his vaft designs withstand.

VIII.

See how he he feeds th' Iberian † with delays,
To render us his timely friendship vain :
And, while his fecret foul on Flanders preys,

He rocks the cradle of the babe of Spain.

IX.

Such deep defigns of empire does he lay

O'er them, whofe cause he seems to take in hand;

* Each waxing, &c.] According to their opinion, who think, that great heap of waters, under the line, is depreffed into tides by the moon, towards the poles. + Th' Iberian.] The Spaniard.

And, prudently, would make them lords at fea,
To whom with ease he can give laws by land.

X.

This faw our king; and long within his breast
His penfive counfels balanc'd to and fro :
He griev'd the land he freed should be opprefs'd,
And he lefs for it than ufurpers do.

XI.

His gen'rous mind the fair ideas drew

Of fame and honour, which in dangers lay; Where wealth, like fruit on precipices, grew, Not to be gather'd, but by birds of prey.

XII.

The lofs and gain each fatally were great;
And ftill his fubjects call'd aloud for war:
But peaceful kings, o'er martial people fet,
Each other's poize and counterbalance are.
XIII.

He, first, furvey'd the charge with careful eyes,

Which none but mighty monarchs could maintain; Yet judg'd, like vapours that from lembics rife, It would in richer fhowers defcend again. XIV.

At length refolv'd t' affert the watry ball,

He in himself did whole armado's bring:
Him aged feamen might their master call,

And chufe for general, were he not their king.
XV.

It feems as ev'ry fhip their fovereign knows,
His awful fummons they fo foon obey;

So hear the fcaly herd when * Proteus blows,
And so to pasture follow through the fea.
XVI.

To fee this fleet upon the ocean move,

Angels drew wide the curtains of the skies
And heav'n, as if there wanted lights above,

For tapers made two glaring comets rife.
XVII.

Whether they unctuous exhalations are,

Fir'd by the fun, or feeming fo alone:
Or each fome more remote and flippery ftar,
Which lofes footing when to mortals fhewn.
XVIII.

Or one, that bright companion of the fun,

Whofe glorious aspect feal'd our new-born king; And now a round of greater years begun,

New influence from his walks of light did bring.
XIX.

Victorious York did, firft, with fam'd fuccefs,
To his known valour make the Dutch give place:
Thus heav'n our monarch's fortune did confefs,
Beginning conqueft from his royal race.

XX.

But fince it was decreed, aufpicious king,

In Britain's right that thou fhouldft wed the main,

*When Proteus blows.]

--Coeruleus Proteus immania ponti

Armenta et magnas pafcit fub gurgite phocas.

VIRG.

Heav'n, as a gage, would caft fome precious thing, And therefore doom'd that Lawfon fhould be flain. XXI.

Lawson amongst the foremost met his fate,

Whom fea-green Sirens from the rocks lament:
Thus as an off'ring for the Grecian state,

He firft was kill'd, who first to battle went.
XXII.

* Their chief blown up, in air, not waves, expir'd,
To which his pride prefum'd to give the law:
The Dutch confefs'd heaven prefent, and retir'd,
And all was Britain the wide Ocean faw.

XXIII.

To nearest ports their shatter'd ships repair,
Where by our dreadful cannon they lay aw'd:
So rev'rently men quit the open air,

When thunder fpeaks the angry gods abroad.
XXIV.

And now approach'd their fleet from India fraught,
With all the riches of the rifing fun :

And precious fand ‡ from Southern climates brought,
The fatal regions where the war begun.
XXV.

Like hunted Caftors, confcious of their store,

Their way-lay'd wealth to Norway's coaft they bring :

There firft the North's cold bofom fpices bore,
And winter brooded on the caftern fpring,

*The admiral of Holland.
The attempt at Berghen.
Southern climates.] Guinea.
D

XXVI.

By the rich scent we found our perfum'd prey,
Which, flank'd with rocks, did close in covert lye:
And round about their murd'ring cannon lay,
At once to threaten and invite the eye.
XXVII.

Fiercer than cannon, and than rocks more hard,
The English undertake th' unequal war :
Seven fhips alone, by which the port is barr'd,
Beficge the Indies, and all Denmark dare,
XXVIII.

Thefe fight like hufbands, but like lovers thofe :
Thefe fain would keep, and thofe more fain enjoy
And to fuch height their frantic paffion grows,
That what both love, both hazard to destroy.
XXIX.

Amidft whole heaps of fpices lights a ball,
And now their odours arm'd against them fly:
Some preciously by shatter'd porcelain fall,
And fome by aromatic splinters die.

XXX.

And though by tempefts of the prize bereft,
In heav'n's inclemency fome ease we find :
Our foes we vanquish'd by our valour left,
And only yielded to the feas and wind.
XXXI.

Nor wholly loft we fo deferv'd a prey;
For ftorms, repenting, part of it reftor'd:
Which, as a tribute from the Baltic fea,

The British ocean fent her mighty Lord.
XXXII.

Go, mortals, now, and vex yourselves in vain

For wealth, which fo uncertainly must coine: