ODE THE SECOND:

IN WHICH IS

THE SAILOR'S PRAYER BEFORE ENGAGEMENT,

I.

So

formd the bolt, ordaind to break

o

Gaul's haughty plan, and Bourbon shake; If Britain's crimes support not Britain's foes, And edge their fwords: 0 power

divine ! If blest by Thee the bold design, Embattled hosts a single arm o'erthrows.

Il.

Ye warlike dead, who fell of old

In Britain's cause, by fame enroll'd In deathless annal! deathless deeds in pire;

From oozy beds, for Britain's fake,

Awake, illustrious chiefs ! awake;
And kindle in your fons paternal fire.

III.
The day commission'd from above,

Our worth to weigh, our hearts to prove,
If war's full shock too feeble to sustain;

Or firm to stand its final blow,

When vital streams of blood shall flow, And turn to crimson the discolour'd main;

IV. That

IV.

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

“ Hear us, O hear, Almighty Power ! “ Our guide in counsel, and our strength 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 prostrate hearts, and awful fear,

“And deep remorse, and fighs sincere
“ For Britain's guilt, the wrath divine appease;

“ A wrath, more formidable far

“ Than angry nature's wasteful war,
“ The whirl of tempests, and the roar of sease

VI.
" From out the deep, to Thee we cry,

“ To Thee, at nature's helm on high! 56 Steer thou our conduct, dread Omnipotence!

" To Thee for succour we resort ;

“ Thy favour is our only port;
“ Our only rock of safety, thy defence.

VII.
o Thou, to whom the lions roar,

" And, not unheard, thy boon implore ! Thy throne our bursts of cannon loud invoke:

or Thou canst arrest the flying ball;

6. Or send it back and bid it fall “ On those, from whose proud deck the thunder broke.

Q4 VIII. - Britain,

VIII.
“ Britain in vain extends her care

“ To climes * remote, for aids in war; “ Still farther must it stretch 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 sea; « 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 conquest, at thy will.

X.
« 'Tis Thine to beam sublime renown,

“ Or quench the glories of a crown; “ 'Tis Thine to doom, 'tis Thine from death to free;

" To turn aside his level'd dart,

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

XI.
• Thou, who haft taught the north to roar,

“ And streaming † lights nocturnal pour " Of frightful aspect! 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 * Ruilia. † Aurora Borealis.

XII.

6 The right alone is bold and strong;

« Black, hovering clouds appall the wrong « With dread of vengeance: nature's awful fire !

“ Less than one moment shouldlt Thou frowns,

" Where is puissance and renown?
« Thrones tremble, empires sink, or worlds expire.

XIII.
“ Let George the just chastise the vain:

« Thou, who durit curb the rebel main,
« To mount the shore when boiling billows rave!

“ Bid George repel a bolder tide,

“ The boundless swell 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 descend, and fhouting greet,

“ With peals of joy, Britannia's fleet, « How richly freighted ! It, triumphant, brings « The poise of kingdoms, and the fate of kings."

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IMPERIUM