PLIOCENE PERIOD 
The southern lands of Britain now are seen 
Upraised to loftier levels : land between 
Francia and her is also higher lifted ; 
And more to north the southern coast is shifted 
Of that old German land-locked sea, whose strand 405 
Had stood for long within Britannia's land. 
But not locked in by land is now this sea, 
For land upon its northern boundary, 
(Land that for long long times had lain be-linking 
Britain and Norway), now from view is sinking. 410 
And this erst inland sea, now northward free, 
Creeping across the sinking territory, 
Has met and joined the chilly Northern sea. 
Nor here alone have those cold waters come 
Far from the rigour of their arctic home, 415 
For that old land that long their bar had been, 
From Scotia's land to Greenland's distant scene, 
Is one no more : and Faroe Isles to be 
Now lie a lonely land-mass in the sea ; 
Along whose flanks the northern waters sweep, 420 
And blend their currents with the Atlantic deep. 
The Midland sea that in the times of old 
Did oft Europa's southlands seize and hold, 
Yet by upheavals oft had been compelled 
To quit what through subsidence she had held, 425 
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