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And gentle gales them steer, and heaven drives,
When all on sudden their calm bosom rives,
With thunder and lightning from each armed

cloud ;
Shepherds themselves in vain in bushes shroud ; —
So up the stream the Belgic navy glides,
And at Sheerness unloads its stormy sides.

Sprag there, though practised in the sr:i-
command.
With panting heart lay like a fish on land,
And quickly judged the fort was not tenal'lc
Which if a house, yet were not tenantabic ;
Ko man can sit there safe, the cannon pours
Through walls untight, and through the bullci
showers.



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OF MARVELL. 231

The neighbourhood ill, and an unwholsome seat,

He at the first salute resolves retreat;

And swore that he would never more dwell

there,
Until the city put it in repair ;
So he in front, his garrison in rear,
Marched straight to Chatham to increase their

fear.

There our sick ships unrigged in summer lay,
Like moulting fowl, a weak and easy prey.
For whose strong bulk earth scarce could timber

find,
The ocean water, or the heavens wind,
Those oaken giants of the ancient race.
That ruled all seas, and did our channel grace ;
The conscious stag, though once the forest's

dread.
Flies to the wood, and hides his armless head.
Ruyter forthwith a squadron doth untack ;
They sail securely through the river's track.
An English pilot too (O, shame ! O, sin ! ) •
Cheated of 's pay, was he that showed them in.

Our wretched ships within their fate attend.
And all our hopes now on frail chain depend,
(Engine so slight to guard us from the sea,
It fitter seemed to cai)tivate a flea ;)
A skipper rude shocks it without respect,
Filling his sails more force to recollect ;



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282 THE POEMS

The English from shore the iron deaf invoke
For its last aid : hold, chain, or we are broke!
But with her saihng weight the Holland keel,
Snapping tlie brittle links, does thorough reel,
And to the rest the opening passage show ;
Monk from the bank that dismal sight does view ;
Our feather gallants, who came down that day
To be spectatoi-s safe of the new play,
Leave him alone when first they hear the gun,
Cornbury the fleetest, and to London run.

Our seamen, whom no danger's shape could
fright.
Unpaid, refuse to mount their ships for spite.
Or to their fellows swim on board the Dutch,
Who show the tempting metal in their clutch.
Oft had he sent, of Diincombe and of Legge,
Cannon and powder, but in vain, to beg ;
And Upnor eastle*s ill-deserted wall.
Now needful does for ammunition calL
He finds, where'er he succour might expect.
Confusion, folly, treachery, fear, neglect.

But when the Royal Charles (what rage ! what
grief ! )
fie saw seized, and could give her no relief;
That sacred keel that had, as he, restored
Its exiled soverei«;ii on its happy board,
And thence the Uritish Admiral became,
. Crowned for that him it with his master's name;



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OP MARVELL. 233

That pleasure-boat of war, in whose dear side
Secure, so oft he had this foe defied,
Now a cheap spoil, and the mean victor's slave,
Taught the Dutch colours from its top to wave, —
Of former glories the reproachful thought,
With present shame compared, his mind distort.

Such from Euphrates' bank, a tigress fell
After her robbei*s for her whelps doth yell.
But sees enraged the river flow between.
Frustrate revenge, and love by loss more keen ;
At her own breast her useless claws does arm.
She tears herself, 'cause him she cannot harm.