165 And, ebbing, here retires; within its fides, And warn the ruler of the floods to rife, 170 Rich spoils, by plundering tempefts hither borne, 175 180 His beard and dewy hair fhed trickling drops of brine. The river-gods, his numerous progeny, On beds of rufhes round their parent lie. Here Danube and the Rhine; Nile's fecret fource Dwells here conceal'd; hence Tiber takes his course; 185 Hence rapid Rhodanus his current pours; And, iffuing from his urn, majestic Padus roars; And Alpheus feeks, with filent pace, the lov'd Sicilian flores. But, chief in honour, Neptune's darling fon, The beauteous Thames lies nearest to his throne. 190 Nor Nor thou, fair Boyne! Malt påfs unmention'd by, These, and a thousand more, whofe winding trains 195 And fills their craving urns with fresh-recruited tides. But not alike; for oft his partial care Beftows on fome a disproportion'd fhare; From whence their fwelling currents, o'er-fupply'd, Through delug'd fields in noify triumph ride. 200 The God was just preparing to renew His daily task, when fudden in his view Appear'd the guardian power, all dazzling-bright; And, entering, flash'd the caves with beamy light. Boyne, Rhine, the Sambre, on their banks had seen 205 The glorious form, and knew his martial mien; In throngs th' admiring Nereids round him prefs'd, And Tritons croud to view the heavenly guest. Then thus, advancing, he his will explains, "O mighty fovereign of the liquid plains ! "Hafte, to the furface of the deep repair, "This folemn day requires thy presence there, "To rule the ftorms, the rifing waves restrain, "And thake thy fceptre o'er the govern'd main. "By breathing gales on thy dominions driven 210 215 "To thee, three kingdoms hopes in charge are given, “The glory of the world, and beft-belov'd of heaven. "Behold him figur'd here !"He faid, and held, Refulgent to his view, the guardian shield. On On the rich mould, inwrought with skill divine, 20 225 230 With martial terror charms, and gives a fierce delight. 240 Upbraids their fainting force, and boldly throws Nor night it felf their fury can allay; 245 Till the pale moon, that fickens at the fight, } Again, the shield in favage prospect shows An ancient abbey, which rough woods inclose; 250 Where, safe encamp'd, proud Luxemburgh defies But fee! a fecond Hannibal from far, } Up the steep height, conducts th' entangled war. 255 Of English valour, charges by his fide. With flashing fires; the thunder'd hills rebound, lows to the found. 260 Forc'd from their holds, at length they speed their flight; Rich tents, and stores of war, the victor's toils requite. Then peace enfues; and, in a fhining train, 265 The friendly chiefs assemble on the plain. And banish'd Juftice, fly to him for aid. Here failing fhips are drawn, the crowded strand, *St. Dennis near Mons. Oppreffion, 275 Oppreffion, Fraud, Confufion, and Affright, Of fome lone thicket, reveling haggs provide Dire charms, that threat the fleeping neighbourhood, 280 And quaff, with magic mix'd, vaft bowls of human blood; But, when the dawn reveals the purple eaft, Hibernia's fields new triumphs then supply; Thou faw'ft him, Boyne! when thy charg'd waters bore The fwimming courfers to th' oppofing shore, cannons roar. What more than mortal bravery infpir'd The daring troops, by his example fir'd! 295. Thou faw't their wondrous deeds; to Neptune's court Thy flying waves convey'd the swift report, And, red with laughter, to their father how'd 300 Streams not their own, and a difcolour'd flood. |