POETRY. 451 



Then shall th' eternal guerdon wait, 



The actions of the wise and great ; 



While, as from black Oblivion's sway 



They bear the mighty name away. 



And waft it, borne on pinion high. 



With joyful carol to the sky, 



Sage History, with eye severe, 



Tracing aloft their bold career, 

 Clears the rich tale from Fiction's specious grace, 

 And builds her sacred lore on Truth's eternal base. 



XXXI. 



Glorious and godlike heirs of fame, 

 With sinewy arm, with daring breast, who brave 

 The howling tempest and the heaving wave. 



And hostile vengeance pour'd in voUied flame, 



Ocean, where'er his billows flow, 



Records your conquests o'er the foe ; 



Where by disgraced Iberia's shore 



Biscaya's turbid waters roar ; 



Where by the Gaul's insulted coast 



Destruction wrecks her scatter'd host ; 



By Erin's rocks, Batavia's sand, 



Hesperia's liberated strand. 

 Proudly ye ride, while round each sheltering cape 

 The adverse fleets inglorious speed their way, 



Cautious avoid the unequal fray, 

 Their proudest boast to fly, their triumph to escape. 



XXXII. 

 Spirits of warriors ! who of yore. 

 By yellow Tiber's trophied shore. 

 Saw heap'd on rich Campania's soil, 

 A conquer'd world's collected spoil ; 

 And ihou, O Julius, whose embattled host 

 First shook Invasion's scourge on Albion's coast, 

 Say, when from Cassibellan's agile car, 

 Flash 'd the just vengeance of defensive war ; 

 Say, did ye deem that e'er the painted race. 

 In distant times, your shore remote should trace, 

 Chase from your far-fam'd tower's Oppression's doom, 

 Restore your wasted fields, protect the walls of Rome? 



Gg2 



