Hark, does it not thunder? no, ‘tis the guns’ roar,
The neighbouring billows are turn’d into gore;
Now each man must resolve to die,
For here the coward cannot fly. 
Drums and trumpets toll the knell,
And culverins the passing bell. 
Now, now they grapple, and now board amain;
Blow up the hatches, they’re off all again: 
Give them a broadside, the dice run at all,
Down comes the mast and yard, and tacklings fall;
She grows giddy now, like blind Fortune’s wheel,
She sinks there, she sinks, she turns up her keel. 
Who ever beheld so noble a sight,
As this so brave, so bloody sea-fight!

* * * * *

XV.

INCANTATION IN OEDIPUS.

  TIR.  Choose the darkest part o’ th’ grove,
  Such as ghosts at noonday love. 
  Dig a trench, and dig it nigh
  Where the bones of Laius lie;
  Altars raised, of turf or stone,
  Will th’ infernal powers have none,
  Answer me, if this be done?

  ALL PR.  ’Tis done.

  TIR.  Is the sacrifice made fit? 
  Draw her backward to the pit: 
  Draw the barren heifer back;
  Barren let her be, and black.

  Cut the curl’d hair that grows
  Full betwixt her horns and brows: 
  And turn your faces from the sun,
  Answer me, if this be done?

  ALL PR.  ’Tis done.

  TIR.  Pour in blood, and blood-like wine,
  To Mother Earth and Proserpine: 
  Mingle milk into the stream;
  Feast the ghosts that love the steam: 
  Snatch a brand from funeral pile: 
  Toss it in to make them boil;
  And turn your faces from the sun,
  Answer me, if this be done?

  ALL PR.  ’Tis done.

* * * * *

XVI.

SONGS IN ALBION AND ALBANIUS.

  I.

  Cease, Augusta! cease thy mourning,
    Happy days appear,
  Godlike Albion is returning,
    Loyal hearts to cheer! 
  Every grace his youth adorning,
  Glorious as the star of morning,
    Or the planet of the year.

  II.

  Albion, by the nymph attended,
  Was to Neptune recommended,
    Peace and plenty spread the sails: 
  Venus, in her shell before him,
  From the sands in safety bore him,
    And supplied Etesian gales. 
  Archon on the shore commanding,
  Lowly met him at his landing,
    Crowds of people swarm’d around;
  Welcome, rang like peals of thunder,
  Welcome, rent the skies asunder,
    Welcome, heaven and earth resound.

  III.

  Infernal offspring of the Night,
  Debarr’d of heaven your native right,
  And from the glorious fields of light,
  Condemn’d in shades to drag the chain,
  And fill with groans the gloomy plain;
  Since pleasures here are none below,
  Be ill our good, our joy be woe;
  Our work t’ embroil the worlds above,
  Disturb their union, disunite their love,
  And blast the beauteous frame of our victorious foe.