18-2G.] The Battle of the Nile. 349 



Some minutes past, ere fragments driv'ii 

 Aloft in air, midway to heav'n, 



First broke the awful pause : 

 These fell with a tremendous splash, 

 As dreadful as the flaming crash 



That burst tiu-ough Nature's laws, 

 And slill'd the roaring cannon's jaws. 



When lo ! from Ocean's eastern verge. 

 Bathed in the dews of Neptune's surge. 



The Queen of Night awoke. 

 Like some fair maid at midnight hour, 

 She started from her lowly bow'r. 

 With silver veil and mantle gray. 

 As one who mourned her love away ; 

 She gazed upon the dreadful scene. 

 And wondcr'd what such deeds could monn, 



What could such wrath provoke. 



Short the suspense — revenge, despair. 



Aroused the startled Gaul; 

 He saw Britannia's triumph there, 



He saw his fatal fall ; 

 And prompt at passion's vengeful call, 

 Broke through the silent magic spell. 

 With cannon blaze, and battle yell. 



When, as if startled at their spleen, 

 The starry hosts' enamell'd queen. 

 Willing her vestal form to shroud. 

 Retired behind a passing cloud. 

 As if she wish'd, in secrecy, 

 ♦ Unnoticed and alone. 



To climb her pathway through the sky. 



And mount her silver throne. 

 But soon the frantic foe, that dar'd 



First vengeance to requite, 

 Like others, met her due reward, 



And own'd Britannia's might. 

 By this the battle's heat was o'er. 

 And Gallia bow'd to Albion's pow'r; 

 The cannon lost their awful roar. 

 Which echoed fainter from the shore. 



As waned the deadly fight ; 

 And just an hour ere rose the sun. 

 The great, the glorious deed was done 



That hailed the coming light ! 

 And when bright Sol, dispelling shade. 

 Half round the world his tour had made. 

 And glanced once more his golden beams 

 On sluggish Nile's prolific streams, 

 Then, of all Gallia's naval host. 

 That guarded Egypt's banner'd coast 



In pomp but yesterday ; 

 The Gallic ensign — red, white, blue — 



In vauntless folds supine. 

 In humbled pride, adorn'd but two 



French vessels of the Line — 

 The GuilUaume Tell, and Genereux ; 

 Save where 'neath Albion's flag it flew, 

 Which hail'd the morning ray. 



