fi,^0 fioefry. Teb. 15. 



Here hast tliou, Poitsdawn ! seen, in awful state 

 Riding sublime, the Brltilh navies wait 

 la dread array; — theirmasts like forests rise j 

 Their blazing colours waving in the fkies ; 

 Along their decks ten thousand heroes stand, 

 Courting eacli gale to waft the wifhM command, 

 To bear the thunder 'midst the daring foe; 

 Or round the globe as guards to commerce go; 

 His captain's nod each tar imp^.ticnt eyes, 

 At half a word the unfurl'd canvas flies 

 Full 'm the wind ; they boldly stretch away. 

 And (hout, exulting, «' Now's the wi(h'd-for day !" 

 "The wiih'd-for day !" the crowded fliores reply, 

 " And succefs crown it! — Triumph now or die." 



Oft hast thou, tlnis," seen Eritifh sons go forth. 

 To plow the southern ocean, or the north ; 

 To bear their tenors to the rising day. 

 Or thunder with the sun's declining ray; 

 Or, what more pleasure to the soul imparts, 

 And warms to rapture soon the coldest hearts, 

 Whtn crown'd with laurels from each region borne. 

 The guards of commerce thou hast seen return. 



Thus the fam'd ancient sire, who, anx'ous, gave 

 His fav'rite youth the irusty well tried glave. 

 To make his way on Fortune's ample field, 

 Where battles rage, and dangers triumphs yield: 

 "When thro' long tolls and various perils tiain'd, 

 He comes distinguifh'd to his native land, 

 The good old man's rekindl'd ardour glows, 

 And warm'd to rapture from his bosom glows : 

 <( Welcome my child I I now dismifs my fears. 

 Thou prop! — support! of my declining year* : 

 Xnjoy in peace thy laurels bravely won. 

 And bt my guard, thou dearest fw'rite son I" 



Thus dost thou see, when war's, wild rage is o'er, 

 The Britlih navy rang'd aloag thy fliore. 



For this fair prospect, all the pomp of courts 

 The sov'rcign leaYCa, and to thy brow resorts, 

 From whence he views, in glorious landscape thrawrtj 

 The nation's ptide, and guardians of his crown. 

 He sees, e.-rulting, how this ample guard, 

 To pour tlieir thunders ever stand prepar'd ; 

 The' his great mind, superior to the glare 

 Of false ambition, says, " Be far oft' war; 

 In Britain's welfare all our cares are plan'd. 

 To find her plenty with a gentle hand. 

 To bid her commerce flourilh round the world : 

 For these alone are all our sails unfurl'd, 

 And but for these, those thunders ne'er Ihould roar, 

 TJ4)se vefsels anchor on 4 hostile fijore. 



