346 The Battle of the Nile. [Aphix-, 



Close moor'd athwart the narrow ba}-. 

 The hostile fleet in silence lay. 



In line from shore to shore ; 

 Their sails were in trim order furled, 

 And lightly on the breezes curled. 



Their boasted tri-color. 



The British van the Zealous led — 



In silent pride advanced ; 

 And when the hostile line she near'd. 



The dreadful work commenced ! 

 Methinks I hear the crashing peal 



Which first the silence broke. 

 And see in graceful eddies wheel 



The volley's rolling smoke. 



That high its forehead tost. 

 And mounted on the startled wind. 

 But thicken'd as the peals combined. 



Against fair Albion's host; 

 Which, steady and unmov'd the while, 

 Sail'd onward with complacent smile. 



Remindful of the coast. 

 But, when at length the fight they join. 

 And double on the hostile line, 

 The British thunder join'd the roar, 

 That frighten'd Egypt's peaceful shore. 

 And flash'd amid the smoking crowd, 

 Jjike lightning gleam from thunder-cloud, ' 



Or sunbeams on the frost. 



But now, low in the western sky. 

 The sun, in splendid majesty, 



Glanc'd eastward back again, 

 Upon those lofty Pyramids 



That mock their desart plain ; 

 Whom hoary Time himself forbids 



To VoUow in his train; 



But leaves them on his way. 

 As relics of those ancient days. 

 When men such mighty works could raise. 



Such massy stones convey. 



And feebler now his last ray falls 

 On Aboukir's defenceless walls. 



And smiling, seems to say, 

 " Come on, ye sable shades of night, 

 " To grace the glories of the fight, 



" More splendid without me. 

 " To you, ye sons of Britain's pride, 

 " Is due the homage of the tide, 

 " O'er all the wat'ry oceans wide, 



" And ev'ry hostile sea ! 

 " Speed on your course — to-morrow morn 

 " I'll rise your conquest to adorn ; 

 " For ne'er such laurel wreath was won, 

 *' By Fortune's yet most favour'd son, 



" With cannon, spear, or sliield, 



" On ocean, or in field, 

 " As that, this night she dooms shall be 

 *' In honour duly placed on thee, 



*' Brave Nelson of the Nile I" 



