"Though great the danger, and the task severe, "Yet bow not to the tyranny of Fear;

"If once that slavish yoke your souls subdue, "Adieu to Hope! to Life itself adieu!

"I know among you some have oft beheld "A blood-hound train, by rapine's lust impell'd, "On England's cruel coast impatient stand, "To rob the Wanderers wrecked upon their strand: "These, while their savage office they pursue, "Oft wound to death the helpless plundered Crew, "Who, 'scaped from every horror of the main, "Implored their mercy, but implored in vain : "Yet dread not this, a Crime to GREECE Unknown, "Such bloodhounds all her circling shores disown; "Who, though by barb'rous tyranny opprest, "Can share affliction with the Wretch distrest: "Their hearts, by cruel fate inured to grief, "Oft to the friendless Stranger yield relief."

With conscious horror struck, the naval band Deserted for a while their Native land;

They cursed the sleeping vengeance of the Laws, That thus forgot her guardian Sailors' cause.

Meanwhile the MASTER'S voice again they heard, Whom, as with filial duty, all revered: "No more remains-but now a trusty band "Must ever at the Pumps industrious stand; "And, while with us the rest attend to wear, "Two skilful Seamen to the Helm repair"And Thou, ETERNAL POWER! whose awful sway, "The Storms revere, and roaring Seas obey! "On thy Supreme assistance we rely ;

"Thy Mercy supplicate, if doomed to die!

"Perhaps this Storm is sent with healing breath "From neighb'ring Shores to scourge disease and death: "'Tis ours on thine unerring Laws to trust," "With thee, great LORD! whatever is, is just."

He said: and, with consenting reverence fraught,
The Sailors joined his Prayer in silent thought:
His intellectual eye, serenely bright,

Saw distant objects with prophetic light-
Thus in a Land, that lasting Wars oppress,
That groans beneath misfortune and distress;
Whose Wealth to conquering armies falls a prey,
Till all her Vigour, Pride, and Fame decay ;

Some bold sagacious Statesman, from the helm,
Sees desolation gathering o'er his Realm;

He darts around his penetrating eyes,

Where dangers grow, and hostile unions rise;
With deep attention marks th' invading Foe,
Eludes their wiles and frustrates every blow,
Tries his last art the tottering state to save,
Or in its ruins find a glorious Grave.

Still in the yawning trough the Vessel reels,
Ingulphed beneath two fluctuating hills;
On either side they rise, tremendous Scene!
A long dark melancholy vale between:
The balanced Ship now forward, now behind,
Still felt th' impression of the Waves and Wind,
And to the right and left by turns inclin'd;
But ALBERT from behind the balance drew,
And on the Prow its double efforts threw.
The Order now was given to bear away!
The order given, the Timoneers obey:

Both stay-sails Sheets to mid. ships were conveyed,
And round the Foremast on each side belayed;

Thus ready, to the Halyards they apply,
They hoist! away the flitting ruins fly:
Yet ALBERT new resources still prepares,
Conceals his grief, and doubles all his cares.--
"Away there! lower the mizen-yard on deck,"
He calls," and brace the foremast yards aback !"
His great example every bosom fires,

New life rekindles, and new hope inspires.
While to the Helm unfaithful still she lies,
One desperate remedy at last he tries-

"Haste! with your weapons cut the Shrouds and Stay, "And hew at once the Mizen-mast

away!

!"

He said: to cut the girding Stay they run,
Soon on each side the severed Shrouds are gone:
Fast by the fated Pine bold RODMOND stands,
Th' impatient axe hung gleaming in his hands;
Brandished on high, it fell with dreadful sound,
The tall Mast groaning felt the deadly wound;
Deep gashed beneath, the tottering structure rings,
And crashing, thundering, o'er the Quarter swings:
Thus, when some Limb, convulsed with pangs of death,
Imbibes the gangrene's pestilential breath,

Th' experienced Artist from the blood betrays
The latent venom, or its course delays;
But if th' infection triumphs o'er his art,
Tainting the vital stream that warms the heart,
To stop the course of Death's inflaming tides,
Th' infected member from the Trunk divides.

END OF THE SECOND CANTO.