No More Learning

He finds, the air and all things sweeter heru ;
The sudden change, and such a tempting sight,
Swells his old veins with fresh blood, fresh

delight ;
Like amorous victors he begins to shave,
And his new face looks in the English wave ;
His sporting navy all about him swim,
And witness their complacence in their trim ;
Their streaming silks play through the weather

fair.
And with inveigling colours court the air,
While the red fiags breathe on their topmasts high
Terror and war, but want an enemy.
* The Dutch Admiral who burned our i^hips tii (l. iitham.



Digitized by VjOOQIC



230 THK rOKMS

Among the shrouds the seamen sit and sing,
And wanton boys on every rope do cling :
Old Neptune springs the tides, and waters lent,
(The Gods themselves do help the provident)
And where the deep keel on the shallow cleave? ,
With trident's lever and great shoulder heaves ;
^olus their sails inspires with eastern wind,
Puffs them along, and breathes upon them kind ;
With pearly shell the Tritons all the while
Sound the sea-march, and guide to Sheppy isle.

So have I seen in April's bud arise
A fleet of clouds sailing along the skies ;
The liquid region with their squadrons filled.
Their airy sterns the sun behind doth gild.
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.



Digitized by VjOOQIC



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 ;



Digitized by VjOOQIC



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 !