186
COWLEY'S POEMS.
Fill'd with proud hopes, "At least," said he,
"Th' Egyptian Gods, from Syrian magick free,
"Will now revenge themselves and me;
"Behold what passless rocks on either hand,
"Like prison-walls, about them stand,
"Whilst the sea bounds their flight before!
"And in our injured justice they must find
"A far worse stop than rocks and seas behind;
"Which shall with crimson gore
"New paint the water's name, and double dye the shore."
"Th' Egyptian Gods, from Syrian magick free,
"Will now revenge themselves and me;
"Behold what passless rocks on either hand,
"Like prison-walls, about them stand,
"Whilst the sea bounds their flight before!
"And in our injured justice they must find
"A far worse stop than rocks and seas behind;
"Which shall with crimson gore
"New paint the water's name, and double dye the shore."
He spoke; and all his host
Approv'd with shouts th' unhappy boast;
A bidden wind bore his vain words away,
And drown'd them in the neighbouring sea.
No means t' escape the faithless travellers spy,
And, with degenerous fear to die,
Curse their new-gotten liberty.
But the great Guide well knew he led them right,
And saw a path hid yet from human sight:
He strikes the raging waves, the waves on either side
Unloose their close embraces, and divide;
And backwards press, as in some solemn show
The crowding people do
(Though just before no space was seen)
To let the admired triumph pass between.
The wondering army saw on either hand
The no-less-wondering waves like rocks of crystal stand:
Approv'd with shouts th' unhappy boast;
A bidden wind bore his vain words away,
And drown'd them in the neighbouring sea.
No means t' escape the faithless travellers spy,
And, with degenerous fear to die,
Curse their new-gotten liberty.
But the great Guide well knew he led them right,
And saw a path hid yet from human sight:
He strikes the raging waves, the waves on either side
Unloose their close embraces, and divide;
And backwards press, as in some solemn show
The crowding people do
(Though just before no space was seen)
To let the admired triumph pass between.
The wondering army saw on either hand
The no-less-wondering waves like rocks of crystal stand:
