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ODE THE SECOND:

IN WHICH IS

THE SAILOR'S PRAYER BEFORE ENGAGEMENT.

S

I.

form'd the bolt, ordain'd to break

Gaul's haughty plan, and Bourbon shake; If Britain's crimes fupport not Britain's foes, And edge their fwords: O power divine! If bleft by Thee the bold design, Embattled hofts a single arm o'erthrows.

II.

Ye warlike dead, who fell of old
In Britain's caufe, by fame enroll'd
In deathless annal! deathlefs deeds inspire;
From oozy beds, for Britain's fake,
Awake, illuftrious chiefs! awake;
And kindle in your fons paternal fire.

III..

The day commiffion'd from above,

Our worth to weigh, our hearts to prove,

If war's full fhock too feeble to fuftain;
Or firm to ftand its final blow,

When vital ftreams of blood fhall flow,

And turn to crimfon the difcolour'd main;

IV. That

IV.

That day's arriv'd, that fatal hour!

"Hear us, O hear, Almighty Power! "Our guide in counfel, and our ftrength in fight!" "Now war's important die is thrown,

"If left the day to man alone,

"How blind is wisdom, and how weak is might!

V.

"Let proftrate hearts, and awful fear, "And deep remorse, and fighs fincere "For Britain's guilt, the wrath divine appeafe; "A wrath, more formidable far "Than angry nature's wafteful war, "The whirl of tempefts, and the roar of feas

VI.

"From out the deep, to Thee we cry,

"To Thee, at nature's helm on high! "Steer thou our conduct, dread Omnipotence! "To Thee for fuccour we refort; "Thy favour is our only port; "Our only rock of fafety, thy defence.

VII.

O Thou, to whom the lions roar,

“And, not unheard, thy boon implore! "Thy throne our burfts of cannon loud invoke: "Thou canst arrest the flying ball;

"Or fend it back and bid it fall

"On those, from whofe proud deck the thunder broke.

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VIII.

"Britain in vain extends her care

"To climes remote, for aids in war; "Still farther muft it ftretch to crush the foe; "There's one alliance, one alone,

"Can crown her arms, or fix her throne; "And that alliance is not found below.

IX.

"Ally Supreme we turn to Thee;
"We learn obedience from the fea;

"With seas, and winds, henceforth, thy laws fulfil: "Tis Thine our blood to freeze, or warm;

"To rouze, or hush, the martial storm;, "And turn the tide of conqueft, at thy will.

X.

"Tis Thine to beam fublime renown,

"Or quench the glories of a crown; ""Tis Thine to doom, 'tis Thine from death to free; "To turn afide his level'd dart,

"Or pluck it from the bleeding heart:"There we caft anchor, we confide in Thee..

XI.

"Thou, who hast taught the north to roar, "And ftreaming † lights nocturnal pour "Of frightful afpect! when proud foes invade, "Their blafted pride with dread to seize, "Bid Britain's flags, as meteors, blaze; "And George depute to thunder in thy stead.

XII. "The

* Ruffia.

† Aurora Borealis,

XII.

"The right alone is bold and strong; "Black, hovering clouds appall the wrong "With dread of vengeance: nature's awful fire! "Lefs than one moment fhouldft Thou frown, "Where is puiffance and renown?

"Thrones tremble, empires fink, or worlds expire. XIII.

"Let George the just chastise the vain: "Thou, who durft curb the rebel main, "To mount the fhore when boiling billows rave! "Bid George repel a bolder tide,

"The boundlefs fwell of Gallic pride; "And check ambition's overwhelming wave.

XIV.

"And when (all milder means withstood); "Ambition, tam'd by loss of blood, "Regains her reason; then, on angels wings, "Let peace defcend, and fhouting greet,

"With peals of joy, Britannia's fleet,

"How richly freighted! It, triumphant, brings "The poife of kingdoms, and the fate of kings."

IMPERIUM

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