1826.] 7'he Battle of the Nile. 347 



Ere we the harbour entrance made, 

 The night had wrapt the world in shade, 

 And nought around was heard or seen. 

 But cannon-blaze, and battle din, 

 That swell'd each bosom with delight ; 

 And as yet darker grew the night, 

 Still more heart-stirring was the sight, 

 The more we long'd to share the fight. 



Eager the envied scene to reach, 



Culloden bore away : 

 But grounded on the shelvy beach. 



When entering the bay. 

 The Alexander, and Swiftsure, 



Made somewhat more leeway. 

 And gained their stations, both secure. 



Amid the battle fray. 



And now the hostile squadrons wage 

 The battle with determined rage ; 



As Marlstroom tempest raves. 

 Upheaving, with tremendous sweep. 

 The boiling waters of the deep 

 Off frozen Norway's craggy steep, 



And thunders in her caves. 

 But, mark, amidst the wild uproar. 

 Three lights each British vessel bore 



Upon the mizen peak. 



Awhile in hopes to give her aid 



Leander with CtUloden staid ; 



But every effort proving vain, 



She hasten'd onward once again. 



And 'thwart the Franklins hawse she moored. 



And each tremendous broadside poured 



Full on her lofty prow : 

 The Swiftsure holding on her way. 

 Full on the starboard quarter lay. 



And UOrienVs tow'ring bow. 



Now, in the zenith of its might. 

 Raged the wild fury of the fight, 



With still increasing ire : 

 \^^en, loud amid the battle yell, 

 A sudden cry was heard to swell. 



The Orient is on fire ! 



Bursting aloft, the living flame / 



With wild resistless fury came ! 

 Sweeps through the decks, ascends the mast, 

 And high its ragged pennons cast, 



Amid the sable smoke ; 

 Which mounted on the breeze the while. 

 And roll'd along the distant Nile ; 

 Whose fertile waves ere wont to glide, 

 In solitude to ocean's tide, 



Wonder'd what fiend had 'woke ! 



Meanwhile the flames shot fast on high, 

 Like wintry lights in northern sky ; 

 They towered a column o'er the fight. 

 Like beacon blaze in stormy night, 

 On some bleak promontory's height. 

 2 Y 2 



