ODE THE SECOND.

IN WHICH IS

THE SAILOR'S PRAYER BEFORE ENGAGEMENT.

Ο

So 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 Pow'r Divine !
If bleft by Thee the bold defign,

Embattled hofts a fingle arm o'erthrows.

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

ILI.

The day commiffion'd from Above,

Our worth to weigh, our hearts to prove,

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

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

IV.

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

"Hear us, O hear, Almighty Pow'r! "Our guide in counfel, 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 proftrate hearts, and awful fear, "And deep remorfe, and fighs fincere "For Britain's guilt, the wrath divine appeafe a "A wrath, more formidable far

"Than angry nature's wasteful 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 bursts of cannon loud invoke:

"Thou canst arreft the flying ball;

"Or fend it back, and bid it fall

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

3

VIII. "Britain

VIII.

"Britain, in vain, extends her care

"To climes remote, for aids in war; "Still farther muft 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 fea; "With feas, 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 levell'd dart,

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

XI.

" THOU, who haft taught the north to roar, "And streaming + lights nocturnal pour "Of frightful afpect! when proud foes invade, Their blasted pride with dread to seize,

"Bid Britain's flags, as meteors, blaze ; " And GEORGE depute to thunder in thy stead.

*Ruffia.

† Aurora Borealis.

XII." The

XII.

"The right alone is bold, and strong; "Black, hovering clouds appall the wrong “With dread of vengeance: Nature's awful Sire

"Lefs than one moment fhouldft Thou frown, "Where is puiffance, and renown?

"Thrones tremble, empires fink, or worlds expire.

XIII.

"Let GEORGE the juft chaffife the vain "THOU, who doft curb the rebel main," "To mount the fhore when boiling billows rave! "Bid GEORGE repel a bolder tide,

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

XIV.

«And when (all milder means withstood)
“Ambition, tam'd by lofs of blood,
"Regains her reafon; 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."

BUSIRIS,

O trifte planè acerbumque. funus! O morte ipfà mortis tempus indignius! Jam deftinata erat egregio juveni, jam electus nuptiarum dies; quod gaudium, quo moerore mutatum eft? PLIN. Epift.