158 DISCOVERIES OF THE ENGLISH. 
less night, being compelled to quit the arms of 
Morpheus, he gazed on the moon glittering 
through his casement, and felt at last the inspira- 
tion of that deity, (a somewhat equivocal source), 
urging him to narrate in verse the marvellous ad- 
ventures through which he had passed. Not hav- 
ing, it would appear, enjoyed much previous inti- 
macy with the celestial visitant, he became startled 
at the idea of his ** doings being set forth in print 
" before all men," and threw away his pen in 
despair. His companion, however, a son of Sir 
Edward Gage, by a portion of that soothing in- 
fluence, " which was never lost on poet's ear,'* 
prevailed on the desponding bard to resume his 
pen, and finish the narrative. He describes the 
first objects met with upon the African coast in 
the following lines, which presents a fair, though 
not very lofty specimen of his poetical genius. 
" We see 
A number of black soules, 
" Whose likelinesse seemed men to be, 
" But all as blacke as coles." 
" Their captaine comes to me 
As naked as my naile, 
" Not having witte or honesty 
To cover once his taile. 
" And sitting in a trough, 
" A boate made of a logge, 
" The very same wherein, you know, 
" We use to serve a hogge." 
