Such deep designs of empire does he lay O'er them whose cause he seems to take in hand; This saw our King; and long within his breast His generous mind the fair ideas drew Of fame and honour, which in dangers lay; Where wealth like fruit on precipices grew, Not to be gathered but by birds of prey. The loss and gain each fatally were great; And still his subjects call'd aloud for war; But peaceful kings, o'er martial people set, Each other's poize and counterbalance are. He first survey'd the charge with careful eyes, Which none but mighty monarchs could maintain; Yet judged, like vapours that from limbicks rise, At length resolved to assert the watery ball, It seems as every ship their Sovereign knows, To see this fleet upon the ocean move, Angels drew wide the curtains of the skies; And Heaven, as if there wanted lights above, For tapers made two glaring comets rise. Whether the unctuous exhalations are Fired by the sun, or seeming so alone, Or one, that bright companion of the sun, Victorious York did first, with famed success, To his known valour make the Dutch give place: Thus Heaven our Monarch's fortune did confess, Beginning conquest from his royal race. But since it was decreed, auspicious King! [main, In Britain's right that thou shouldst wed the Heaven, as a gage, would cast some precious thing, And therefore doom'd that Lawson should be slain. Lawson amongst the foremost met his fate, He first was killed who first to battle went. Their chief blown up, in air, not waves, expired, To which his pride presumed to give the law: The Dutch confess'd Heaven present and retired, And all was Britain the wide Ocean saw. To nearest ports their shattered ships repair, Where by our dreadful cannon they lay awed; So rev'rently men quit the open air, When thunder speaks the angry gods abroad. And now approach'd their fleet from India, fraught With all the riches of the rising sun; And precious sand from southern climates brought, The fatal regions where the war begun. Like hunted castors, conscious of their store, Their way-laid wealth to Norway's coast they bring; There first the North's cold bosom spices bore, By the rich scent we found our perfumed prey, Which, flanked with rocks, did close in covert And round about their murdering cannon lay, [lie, At once to threaten and invite the eye. Fiercer than cannon, and than rocks more hard, The English undertake the unequal war: Seven ships alone, by which the port is barr'd, Besiege the Indies, and all Denmark dare. These fight like husbands, but like lovers those: These fain would keep, and those more fain enjoy; And to such height their frantic passion grows, Amidst whole heaps of spices lights a ball, And though by tempests of the prize bereft, Nor wholly lost we so deserved a prey; For storms repenting part of it restored; Which, as a tribute from the Baltic sea, The British Ocean sent her mighty Lord. Go, Mortals! now, and vex yourselves in vain The son who, twice three months on th' ocean toss'd, This careful husband had been long away, On which their father promised to return. Such are the proud designs of humankind, Who in the night of fate must blindly steer? The undistinguish'd seeds of good and ill Let Munster's prelate ever be accursed, In whom we seek the German faith f in vain Alas! that he should teach the English first, That fraud and avarice in the church could reign. Happy, who never trust a stranger's will, Whose friendship's in his interest understood! Since money given but tempts him to be ill, When power is too remote to make him good. Till now alone the mighty nations strove; The rest at gaze without the lists did stand: That eunuch-guardian of rich Holland's trade, And weak assistance will his friends destroy: Offended that we fought without his leave, With France, to aid the Dutch, the Danes unite; Such are, &c.] From Petronius; "Si bene calculum ponas, ubique fit naufragium." The German faith.] Tacitus saith of them, "Nullos mortalium fide aut armis ante Germanos esse." Lewis had chased the English from his shore; But Charles the French as subjects does invite; Would Heaven for each some Solomon restore, Who by their mercy may decide their right. Were subjects so but only by their choice, And not from birth did forced dominion take, Our prince alone would have the public voice, And all his neighbours' realms would deserts make. He without fear a dangerous war pursues, Which without rashness he began before. The doubled charge his subjects' love supplies, And in his plenty their abundance find. With equal power he does two chiefs create, Two such, as each seem'd worthiest when alone; Each able to sustain a nation's fate, Since both had found a greater in their own. The Prince long time had courted Fortune's love, And conquer'd first those beauties they would gain. The Duke beheld, like Scipio, with disdain, That Carthage, which he ruin'd, rise once more, And shook aloft the fasces of the main, To fright those slaves with what they felt before. Together to the watery camp they haste, Whom matrons passing to their children show: Infants' first vows for them to Heaven are cast, And future people bless them as they go. With them no riotous pomp, nor Asian train, Diffusive of themselves, where'er they pass, And does its image on their men project. Our fleet divides, and straight the Dutch appear, In number, and a famed commander, bold; The narrow seas can scarce their navy bear, Or crowded vessels can their soldiers hold. The Duke, less numerous, but in courage more, Both furl their sails, and strip them for the fight; Borne each by other in a distant line, The sea-built forts in dreadful order move; So vast the noise, as if not fleets did join, But lands unfix'd,† and floating nations strove. Now pass'd, on either side they nimbly tack; Both strive to intercept and guide the wind, And in its eye more closely they come back To finish all the deaths they left behind. On high-raised decks the haughty Belgians ride, • Future people.] "Examina infantium futurusque populus." Plín. Jun. in Paneg. ad Traj. Lands unfix'd.] From Virgil. Credas innare revulsas Cycladas," &c. And as the built, so different is the fight; Whose batter'd rigging their whole war receives: The foremost of his foes a while withdraw: And now, as where Patroclus' body lay, Ours o'er the Duke their pious wings display, Meantime his busy mariners he hastes, His shatter'd sails with rigging to restore, They charge, recharge, and all along the sea Did a like fate with lost Creusa meet. The night comes on, we eager to pursue In th' English fleet each ship resounds with joy, Not so the Holland fleet, who, tired and done, In dreams they fearful precipices tread, Or, shipwreck'd, labour to some distant shore; The morn they look on with unwilling eyes, Our watchful General had discern'd from far His face spake hope, while deep his sorrows flow. His wounded men he first sends off to shore, Then, to the rest, "Rejoice," said he, "to-day; Whose numerous sails the fearful only tell : Courage from hearts, and not from numbers, grows." His face, &c.]" Spem vultu simulat, premit alto corde dolorem." VIRG. He said, nor needed more to say: with haste Nor did th' encouraged Belgians long delay, Our little fleet was now engaged so far, That, like the swordfish in the whale, they fought; The combat only seem'd a civil war, Till through their bowels we our passage wrought. Never had valour, no, not ours, before Done aught like this upon the land or main, Where not to be o'ercome was to do more Than all the conquests former kings did gain. The mighty ghosts of our great Harrys rose, And armed Edwards look'd with anxious eyes, To see this fleet among unequal foes, By which Fate promised them their Charles should rise. Meantime the Belgians tack upon our rear, Close by their fireships, like jackals, appear, Silent in smoke of cannon they came on, Sometimes, from fighting squadrons of each fleet, And English fires with Belgian flames contend. Now, at each tack, our little fleet grows less, main; The dastard crow, that to the wood made wing, Among the Dutch thus Albemarle did fare: Yet pity did his manly spirit move, To see those perish who so well had fought; And, generously, with his despair he strove, Resolved to live till he their safety wrought. Let other Muses write his prosperous fate, Of conquer'd nations tell, and kings restored; But mine shall sing of his eclipsed estate, Which, like the sun's, more wonders does afford. He drew his mighty frigates all before, On which the foes his fruitless force employs: His fiery cannon did their passage guide, Elsewhere the Belgian force we did defeat, The foe approached; and one, for his bold sin, [foe: Was sunk; as he that touched the ark was slain The wild waves mastered him, and sucked nim in, So Libyan huntsmen, on some sandy plain, But if some one approach to dare his force, And with the other tears him to the ground. Amidst these toils succeeds the balmy night; Now hissing waters the quenched guns restore, And weary waves, withdrawing from the sight, Lie lull'd and panting on the silent shore. The moon shone clear on the becalmed flood, Where, while her beams like glittering silver play, Upon the deck our careful General stood, "That happy sun," said he, "will rise again, "Yet, like an English general will I die, And all the ocean make my spacious grave Women and cowards on the land may lie; The sea's a tomb that's proper for the brave." Restless he passed the remnant of the night, Till the fresh air proclaimed the morning nigh, But now, his stores of ammunition spent, For now brave Rupert from afar appears, And every ship in swift proportion grows. Then as an eagle, who, with pious care, And finds her callow infants forced away: Stung with her love, she stoops upon the plain, And guides her pinions by her young one's cries. With such kind passion hastes the Prince to fight, And spreads his flying canvass to the sound: Him whom no danger, were he there, could fright, Now absent, every little noise can wound. As in a drought the thirsty creatures cry, The simile is Virgil's; "Vestigio retro improperata refert," &c. tWeary waves.] From Statius Sylv. "Nec trucibus fluviis idem sonus; occidit horror Æquoris, antennis maria acclinata quiescunt." And each ambitiously would claim the ken The Dutch, who came like greedy hinds before, Full in the Prince's passage hills of sand, And dangerous flats, in secret ambush lay, Where the false tides skim o'er the cover'd land, And seamen with dissembled depths betray. The wily Dutch, who, like fallen angels, feared But he, unmoved, contemns their idle threat, And inbred worth doth boasting valour slight. Heroic virtue did his actions guide, And he the substance not the appearance chose : To rescue one such friend he took more pride Than to destroy whole thousands of such foes. But when approached, in strict embraces bound, He joys to have his friend in safety found, The cheerful soldiers, with new stores supplied, Thus reinforced, against the adverse fleet, Still doubling ours, brave Rupert leads the way; With the first blushes of the morn they meet, And bring night back upon the new-born day. His presence soon blows up the kindling fight, And his loud guns speak thick like angry men: It seemed as Slaughter had been breathed all night, And Death new-pointed his dull dart again. The Dutch too well his mighty conduct knew, And matchless courage, since the former fight; Whose navy still a stiff-stretch'd cord did show, Till he bore in and bent them into flight. The wind he shares, while half their fleet offends His open side, and high above him shows; Upon the rest at pleasure he descends, And, doubly harmed, he double harms bestows. Behind, the General mends his weary pace, And with warm wishes each man combats there. And now reduced on equal terms to fight, Already batter'd, by his lee they lay; In vain upon the passing winds they call; The passing winds through their torn canvass play, And flagging sails on heartless sailors fall. So glides, &c.] From Virgil. Quum medii nexus extremæque agmina caudæ Solvuntur; tardosque trahit sinus ultimus orbes. Their opened sides receive a gloomy light, When one dire shot, the last they could supply, So have I seen some fearful hare maintain With his loll'd tongue he faintly licks his prey; He casts a frown on the departing foe, And thinks too little what they found too much. As those who unripe veins in mines explore, And know it will be gold another day : So looks our Monarch on this early fight, Heaven ended not the first or second day, In burden'd vessels, first, with speedy care, With cord and canvass from rich Hamburg sent, All hands employ'd, the royal work grows warm:† With glewy wax some new foundations lay Or tend the sick, or educate the young. So here, some pick out bullets from the side, "Quos opimus fallere et effugere est triumphus." "Fervet opus." The same similitude in Virgi Their left hand does the calking iron guide, The rattling mallet with the right they lift. With boiling pitch another near at hand (From friendly Sweden brought) the seams instops; Which, well paid o'er, the salt sea waves withstand Some the gall'd ropes with dauby marling bind, Our careful Monarch stands in person by, His new-cast cannons' firmness to explore; The strength of big-corn'd powder loves to try, And ball and cartridge sorts for every bore. Each day brings fresh supplies of arms and men, And ships which all last winter were abroad; And such as fitted since the fight had been, Or new from stocks were fall'n into the road. The goodly London in her gallant trim, And on her shadow rides in floating gold. Her flag aloft spread ruffling to the wind, And sanguine streamers seem the flood to fire: The weaver, charm'd with what his loom design'd, Goes on to sea, and knows not to retire. With roomy decks, her guns of mighty strength, Whose low-laid mouths each mounting billow laves; Deep in her draught and warlike in her length, This martial present, piously design'd, The loyal City gave their best-loved King; And with a bounty ample as the wind, Built, fitted, and maintain'd, to aid him bring. By viewing Nature, Nature's handmaid, Art Makes mighty things from small beginnings grow: Thus fishes first to shipping did impart, Their tail the rudder, and their head the prow. Some long perhaps upon the waters swam, In shipping such as this the Irish kern, And untaught Indian, on the stream did glide, Ere sharp keel'd boats to stem the flood did learn, Or fin-like oars did spread from either side. Add but a sail, and Saturn so appear'd, When from lost empire he to exile went, And with the Golden Age to Tiber steer'd, Where coin and commerce first he did invent. Rude as their ship was navigation then, No useful compass or meridian known; Coasting, they kept the land within their ken, And knew no north but when the polestar shone. Of all who since have used the open sea, Than the bold English none more fame have won: Beyond the year, and out of heaven's high way They make discoveries where they see no sun. But what so long in vain, and yet unknown, By poor mankind's benighted wit is sought, And hence be to admiring nations taught. Instructed ships shall sail to quick commerce, "Extra anni solisque vias." Then we upon our globe's last verge shall go, This I foretell from your auspicious care, Who great in search of God and Nature grow; Who best your wise Creator's praise declare, Since best to praise his works is best to know. O truly royal! who behold the law But first the toils of war we must endure, And gives up Fraud to be chastised with ease. Already were the Belgians on our coast, Whose fleet more mighty every day became By late success, which they did falsely boast, And now, by first appearing, seem'd to claim. Designing, subtle, diligent, and close, They knew to manage war with wise delay; Yet all those arts their vanity did cross, And by their pride their prudence did betray. Nor staid the English long; but well supplied, Appear as numerous as th' insulting foe; The combat now by courage must be tried, And the success the braver nation show. There was the Plymouth squadron now come in, Which in the Streights last winter was abroad; Which twice on Biscay's working bay had been, And on the midland sea the French had awed. Old expert Allen, loyal all along, Famed for his action on the Smyrna fleet; And Holmes, whose name shall live in epic song, While music numbers, or while verse has feet. Holmes! the Achates of the general's fight, The tempting fruits of Afric did unfold. With him went Sprag, as bountiful as brave, Young Hollis, on a Muse by Mars begot, His right hand doubly to his left succeeds. Thousands were there in darker fame that dwell, Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn; And, though to me unknown, they sure fought well Whom Rupert led, and who were British born, Of every size a hundred fighting sail : So vast the navy now at anchor rides, Now anchors weigh'd, the seamen shout so shrill, The wary Dutch this gathering storm foresaw, So the false spider, when her nets are spread, Then if at last she find him fast beset, She issues forth and runs along her loom; She joys to touch the captive in her net, And drag the little wretch in triumph home. The Belgians hoped that with disorder'd haste Our deep-cut keels upon the sands might run ; |