Page:The Poems of John Dyer (1903).djvu/128

Enormous rocks on rocks, in ever wild
Posture of falling ; as when Pelion rear'd
On Ossa, and on Ossa's tottering head
Woody Olympus, by the angry gods
Precipitate on earth were doomed to fall. 625
At length, thro' every tempest, as some branch
Which from a poplar falls into a loud
Impetuous cataract, tho' deep immers'd,
Yet re-ascends, and glides, on lake or stream,
Smooth thro' the valleys ; so his way be won 630
To the serene Pacific, flood immense !
And rear'd his lofty masts, and spread his sails.
Then Paita's walls, in wasting flames involv'd,
His vengeance felt, and fair occasion gave
To show humanity and continence, 635
To Scipio's not inferior. Then was left
No corner of the globe secure to Pride
And Violence, altho' the far-stretch'd coast
Of Chili, and Peru, and Mexico,
Arm'd in their evil cause ; tho' fell Disease, 640
Un'bating Labour, tedious Time, conspir'd,
And Heat inclement, to unnerve his force ;
Tho' that wide sea, which spreads o'er half the world,
Deny'd all hospitable land or port ;
Where, seasons voyaging, no road he found 645
To moor, no bottom in th' abyss whereon
To drop the fastening anchor ; tho' his brave
Companions ceas'd, subdu'd by toil extreme ;
Tho' solitary left in Tinian's seas,
Where never was before the dreaded sound 650
Of Britain's thunder heard ; his wave-worn bark
Met, fought the proud Iberian, and o'ercame.
So fare it ever with our country's foes !
Rejoice, ye Nations ! vindicate the sway