157 In shipping such as this, the Irish kern,
       And untaught Indian, on the stream did glide: 
     Ere sharp-keel’d boats to stem the flood did learn,
       Or fin-like oars did spread from either side.

 158 Add but a sail, and Saturn so appear’d,
       When from lost empire he to exile went,
     And with the golden age to Tiber steer’d,
       Where coin and commerce first he did invent.

 159 Rude as their ships was navigation then;
       No useful compass or meridian known;
     Coasting, they kept the land within their ken,
       And knew no North but when the Pole-star shone.

 160 Of all who since have used the open sea,
       Than the bold English none more fame have won: 
     Beyond the year, and out of heaven’s high way,
       They make discoveries where they see no sun.

 161 But what so long in vain, and yet unknown,
       By poor mankind’s benighted wit is sought,
     Shall in this age to Britain first be shown,
       And hence be to admiring nations taught.

 162 The ebbs of tides and their mysterious flow,
       We, as art’s elements, shall understand,
     And as by line upon the ocean go,
       Whose paths shall be familiar as the land.

 163 Instructed ships shall sail to quick commerce,
       By which remotest regions are allied;
     Which makes one city of the universe,
       Where some may gain, and all may be supplied.

 164 Then we upon our globe’s last verge shall go,
       And view the ocean leaning on the sky: 
     From thence our rolling neighbours we shall know,
       And on the lunar world securely pry.

 165 This I foretell from your auspicious care,
       Who great in search of God and nature grow;
    Who best your wise Creator’s praise declare,
       Since best to praise his works is best to know.

 166 O truly royal! who behold the law
       And rule of beings in your Maker’s mind: 
     And thence, like limbecks, rich ideas draw,
       To fit the levell’d use of human-kind.

 197 But first the toils of war we must endure,
       And from the injurious Dutch redeem the seas. 
     War makes the valiant of his right secure,
       And gives up fraud to be chastised with ease.

 168 Already were the Belgians on our coast,
       Whose fleet more mighty every day became
     By late success, which they did falsely boast,
       And now by first appearing seem’d to claim.

 169 Designing, subtle, diligent, and close,
       They knew to manage war with wise delay: 
     Yet all those arts their vanity did cross,
       And by their pride their prudence did betray.

 170 Nor stay’d the English long; but, well supplied,
       Appear as numerous as the insulting foe: 
     The combat now by courage must be tried,
       And the success the braver nation show.