904 A N N U A L n E G I S T E R, 1809. 



POETRY. 



ODE FOR THE NEW YEAR, 1809. 



By Henry James Pye, Esq. p. l. 



FULLorb'd in equinoctial skies 

 When the pale moon malignant rides, 

 And bids the howling tempest rise, 



And swells the ocean's briny tides, 

 Dreadful against the sounding shore 

 Tlie winds and waves tumultuous roar, 

 The torrent-braving mound in vain 

 The stormy inroad would restrain, 

 The surges with resistless sway 

 Force o'er the labour'd mole their way, 

 Scorn every weak resource of human toil, 

 O'erwhelm the peopled town, and waste the cultur'd soil. 



But when, by native fences barr'd 

 From billowy rage, the happier land, 

 And rocky cliffs for ever stand 



To the wide-water'd coast a guard. 

 Such as on Vecta's southern steep 

 Look down defiance on the raging deep, 

 Such as on Dover's breezy down 

 On Gallia's hostile borders frown, 

 Tho' billows urging billows roar 

 And idly beat against the shore, 

 While from the heights sublime the swain 

 Mocks the vain efforts of the foaming main, 

 Till nature bids the deluged surge subside, 

 Hush'd is the tempest's voice, and refluent rolls the tide. 

 So o'er Europa's ravag'd plain 



We saw the torrent wild of war 

 Resistless spread its iron reign. 



And scatter ruin wide and far ; 

 The embattled wall, the warlike band, 

 Vainly the Tyrant's course withstand ; 

 Before the imjiious sons of Gaul 

 The legions fly, the bulwarks fall, 

 Yet Britain's floating castles sweep 

 Invasion from her subject deep, 



Yet 



I 



