A A A A A A r^ f^. .-., ' : ^lr'f^h]P\CS a A /" ^^^mm^^ ^^^^A^' ... 'M AHm^A /^A^A^' ^^AAAA /^AA/ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. ^ ^^ v^^7 t UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. " AAaaA/ •:--^A^A maaa QnC ^W«HRR '^■aAAA' h''^^.^A^flAfi «/aA/^\'^': r\nn' r\AA iAAa mSZ wmm Wrs^K ArvA/^AAAAAAA'/^AAOL'Or THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR, AN HEROIC POEM. READ TO THE LITERARY SOCIETT OP BELFAST, BV THEREK WILLIAM HAMILTON DRUMMOND. « Quis Martem tunica tectum adamantina « Digne scrlpserit .'" HORt if<^^PPgQKQcv^>, CHARLESTON^ S. C. ^ rRINTED AT THE COURIER OFFICE; N0« If BROAD-ST&££T. 1807. ®itTTL£ OF TRAFALGAR, AM HlEROIC POEM. ARGUMENT OF BOOK I. Address to Albion, Caledonia, Erin, and the foes cf JSrttaln — charge of the gemus of England to Nelson — he obeys ihe charge — description of the morning, and of his fleet leaving England — morning of the battle — Fllleneuve commander In. thief of the combined fleets- — his character-^-he ranges ihe French and Spanish ships alternately — General D' Ignatla D^Alava, In the Santa Anna leads the van — the Bucentauruf eommanded by Vtlleneuve comes In the centre — Don Baltazar Clsner OS follows , In the Santlsslma Trtnldada — ihe third squad' ton led by rear Admiral Dumanolr-^the rear division ap» proaches In itoo squadrons ; one of which Is commanded bif D* Frederko Gravlna ; the other b^ rear Admiral Magotif who fell In ihe battle — ominous appearances at their setting fail — the whole fleet approaches, ranged for battle. In the form of a crescent — the Britons mark their approach with joy-^ ihe command given to clear the decks — feelings of the sailors-^ speech of Nelson — he divides his fleet into two columns, to penetrate the enemies line : — the first led by himself In the Victory, followed by the Temeralre — Neptune — Conqueror-^ Jjcvlathan — ^Jax — Orion — Agamemnon — Minotaur — Spar" Hate — Britannia — j^frlca. ....... Second division led by Admiral CoUlngwood in the Royal Sovereign— followed by the Mars-^ Belleisle — Tonnani — Bellerophon — Colossus — Achilles — Poly* pheme — Revenge — Swlftsure-^Defence Thundinr^^Defi" mcp*^Frm€-^Dreadn9ught******»'Jrigatci» im fL* \ > i i w III m ill ■ III wiii u w or fringed the ru«tling sand-; While round and round the sportive sea-fowl flev^ Or dipped their plumage in the briny dew^ The silken pendants from the tow'ring mast. Streamed o'er the wave, and wantoned in the blast ; 8(J* The furrowing keels the sounding ocean plowed. With sailors' cries the cliffs re-echoed loud. Britannia viewed the scene with conscious jind«> And hailed her castled bulwarks on the tide : But Victory's heart was thrilled with joy and J>ain, SS Her soul prdph^tic saiv her Nelsoh slaiii ; ,Her helm unbound, lier tresses ivooed the ■wrihd— The laurel wreath her rosy fingers twined Was washed with feats— -and Avhife she hailed li^r chilif , iShe fondly Smiled, and ^ej)t— -arid wept, and ^iriiled. ^ Th* unconscious sailors sung their Nelson's name, (5) Fraud of tbeir^cliief, aad glorying, ialiis fame ; TRAFALCTAR. 9 Rocked by rude whirlwinds in his infant bed^ Nxirsed by rough danger, and to battle bred, Inspiring fame to glory bade him steer, ^5 And conquest foHowed in his bright career ; Each nobler virtue in his soul they scan That forms the hero, or adorns the man : In peace, like zephyr, that at noon-tide hour, Sips the inild fragrance of the Vernal flower ; IQD In war, impetuous as the bolt of heaven Winged with red blazes, and in vengeance dirivenr What blasting lightnings from his angry eye. Devour the foe, and make the valiant fly ! His form, his looks, his actions, all inspire 105 The warrior's thirst of famei the hero's soul of fire : With ardent flame they burn to prove the fight, And humble Spain beneath Britannia's might. But.Spain, the fKJtim of a just dismay. With GaHia's squadrbns safe at anchor lay; II€^ While Briton*s lions raged around the mainj And Erin's wolf-dogs claimed the fight in vain, (6) ^- Insulting France^ — with.alT her scornful' boasts, ' A slave, imprisoned an her blood-stained coasts; At length Trafalgar's fatal mohi arose, 115 That morn disastrous to Britannia's foes. When France and Spain, with, potent fleets combined, Th^r sails expanded to the favouring wind j- 10 »ATTL« OF Fondly they Hoped, in exultation brav^,- Superior force must triumph on the wave } 1^0 That Britain's sons would yield a glorious day, An easy conquest, and a noble prey : Vain thought ; — that British prowess e'er would yield- To ten-fold mimbcrs on the watery field F . O'er tJie long pomp of all^tfieirnaval bandb, 12^' IB^rave Villeneuve extends his high co'mman (:7y In one swift ship, he spreads the flying sail With vaid attempt ;-*-for o'er the azure fields, Britain pursues him, and the hero yields. When peace returriing smiled on Albion's short, t$& She gave the captive to his friends once moffc t Again he mingles in the war's alarms^ And comes to prove his country's might in arm^^^ Oft had his soul revolved with prudent care^ The various chances of the dubious war, 14f0* And now with sapient thought, and sage design, He plans the A^af j and artris the hostile line j. Ranging, alternate, as the Ueets advance, Spain's warlike vessels with the prows of France, That each may each, by great example, fire 14'5 To valiant deeds—to conqu-er or expire. Hanged m tRe van, three lofty squadrons helm, (8^ 'Their course resounding,.^hrough the liquid realm ; 'iRound their black sides the whitening surges roar, And stern defiance loM'erB on every jrore. 15® First "brave D'^laya to the contest came, sUrged by fallacious hopes of glorious fame.: 'The sainted Anna, at his high controul. With seven dark vessels, bids her thunders roll, 5^ated, that day, to see her country's pride 1 5^ ^Destroyed, and blasted on the whelming tide. With Viljeneuve, the central squadron sweeps, The Bucentaurus bears him o'er the deeps ; iHigh on her poop, wide streaming from afar. Wave the proud flags of France, and bring the war. 160 Amid his warlike bands the chief is seen, ;^earl£S3 and brave, and dreadfully serene ; Rapt in deep.thought, he, meditates the blow, .And hurW tempestuousbattle on the foe. llfo.w roused by cheering hope, though, blindand vain, J 65 Immortal laurelsinthe strife to gain. He fires each heart to deeds of de^athless fame With thrilling accent, and with words of flame. Next o'er the deep huige Trinidada rode i Old ocean groaned beneath th* enormous load j 170 In four long tiers her fierce artillery raised, Row above row, in horrid" grandeur blaaed| If BATTLE OF And twice eight hundred gallant souls, who knew Each art of naval war, composed the crew ; Their firm allies, five -hundred soldiers sail, 175 High from the tops to wing the lestden hail. Her tower-like strength, the great Baltazar guides With seven stout vessels through the foamy tides. That squadron last, in frowning pride succeeds, Which Dumanoir with martial glory leads ; 1 80 One of the few who plowed the homeward wave, Escaped from ruin, and a watery grave ; 'Eight floating bulvrarks armed in dire array, Eager for action, own hi^ potent sway. These led the van :— the rear, in valour strong, 185 In two high-bounding squadrons roars along : Twice four black ships each warlike squadron form ; With one Gravina brings the ruthless storm ; High, on th' Asturia's Prince, his banner plays, From six-score guns he drives the raging blaze: 19d Prepared for fight, twelve hundred sailors stand Firm at their post, and wait his high command. The last tall squadron gallant Magoa led, Illustrious chief now numbered with the dead ! For France that day, the hero's art he tried, 195 And like ^ her^ in the gonflict died. TRAFALGAR. 13 Thus armed product for war, the fleets of Spain, With Gallia's navies, cleft the liquid plain : As from Iberia's lessening shores they passed. Low, hollow sounds came sighing in the blast; 200 With strange and silent fires the billows gleamed. Perched on his rock the ravenous vulture screamed ; With sharpened beak the swift-winged eagle scowled. Round the bleak cliffs the hungry sea-dogs prowled, dose in tlie wake of each phosphoric keel, 205 The monsters of the deep, In many a wheel, With famished sharks, quick-darting, seemed to play, "C raunched their fell jaws, and snuffedtheircomingpreyj (9) While proudly riding through the snow-ridged seas. Impelled by fate malignant, in the breeze 210 Swelled the majestic sail: in horrid pride. Frown the black tiers on every hostile side ; ** Horned like the crescent moon," th' embattled fleet, Sweeps on, with desperate force, the British arms to greet. With eagle eye, rejoiced the Britons spied, 215 The masts* tall forest rising o'er the tide : With hearts elate they stretched the swelling sail, Crowded each yard, invoked the favouring gale. Swift o'er the deep with winged speed they flew. And nearer now the frowning squadrons drew. 220 ** Quick, clear the decks," the shrill voiced boatswain crics> <* Quigk, clear the decks," each hollow ship replies. t ^4 BATTLE OF ^Hie- dread coiiimand comes tingling on the ear, ( 10) Pale grows each cheek, with strange unwonted fear : All stand a moment, lost in fixed amaze, 225 'In awful silence, and unconscious gaze : Their homes, their wivcs^ their children force a sigh Choaked in the breath — and then — they dare to die. The4ove of glory triumphs in the heart. And each resolves tc play the hero's part. ^^30 *« Quick, clear the decks," again the boatswain ricgs, Ouick to his post each nimble sailor springs — The cabin's thin partitions roll aside, And clear from stem to stern, the area wide ; Primed are the guns, and every captain stands 2^5 Firm at his post, to cheer his, warlike bands. While some in words their gallant crews lin spire. Incite to action, fan their rising fire.; Light o'er the curling surges,. others bcand, (il) To the shrill fife's, and drum^s, and trumpet's sound j 240 And rise elate, in conscious glory brave, To the bold ode, — " Britannia rules the wave :" For music's voice the icy bosom warms. Strings the lax nerve, and fires the weak ^o arms. Then, Bronte thus addressed his warlike crew : 245 His speech was nervous, though his words were few,; <^ Guardians of England ! hail th' auspisious hour, ** To crush, and blast her foes' UQJted power^ TRAFALGAR. la «* To you she trirjts her high, her sacred cause, ^ Clad in new terrors every British tar, With valour's frenzy maddens for the war. 260 Their chief, long versed in war's destructive lore. With matchless wisdom ranged each warlike prore : The foe's design with sage experience scanned, And the bright road to glorious triumph planned. Then every ship her flag of death displayed ; ^65 In two long columns terribly arrayed, With adverse prows, they cleave the struggling brine, To meet the foe, and break the dreadful line. What haughty ships, celestial muse ! disclose, Bore Britain's thunder on the vaunting foes, 270 Broke through the line, and foiled their battle's plan ? The- Victory first came tow'ring in the van j The ship that bore, in all her gallant pride, The Lord Panting for glory, breathing death and blood ; Well were they skilled in war's tremendous art, 285 And every sailor bore a hero's heart : Pierce from their blasting guns they longed to aim, The storm of vengeance in devouring ftatiie— Then came the Teniera!ire tc^th rapid bound ; On the French foe her dire artillery frowned, 2^ In rebel hatred — For in battle's chance, Britain had torn her from the power of France ; And now against her native land she bore The rattling tempest, and the thunder's roar. The Neptune followed, and the watery god, 295 Proud on her bow, terrific seemed to nod ; Awed the high billow with his angry look, At boastful France th' indignant trident shook, And roared m thunder to th^ pride of Spain, <* Britannia rlihrvfitK nie— tht' etnjjf ess of the main.' ' SCO TRAFALGAR. 17 Next the stern Conqueror cleft the yielding flood ; Oft had her decks been drenched in waves of blood ; The Norman William at her bowsprit shone, (12) And seemed to lead his British warriors on ; As when he led their marshalled liosts of yore, 305 To crush the insurgents on the Norman shore ; Grimly he frowned, in giant grandeur strong, Reared his helmed head, and sternly stalked along ; His potent hand th' elastic bow extends. No arm but his the stubborn yew-tree bends > 310 Th* impatient arrow quivers on the string, And longs iiv Gallic blood to dip its wing. Then huge Leviathan, in strong array. Rolled on, unwieldly, o'er the watery way — So the vast whale, dread monarch of the tides, 315 Tempests the deep, and o'er the billow rides :. The flashing surges circling round his back, Boil as he moves, and mark his hoary track : (13) With spouting floods, he shakes his wide domain, And sports through torrents of the briny rain j 320 His dread approach the finny nations view, Porpoise, and dolphin of celestial hue, Own his tremendous sway with shuddering awe. And dart im^petuous from his ravenous jaw. The favouring gales the lofty Ajax urge, 325 Marching to battle, through the sounding sur^e : b2 lis BATTLE OF Her giant ^^aT^or, clothed in shining arms, (HJ Hastes, with long strides, to meet tlie war's alarms r- Ferocious, direful, panting to destroy — As when his ai-m repelled the force of Troy ; SSO What time great Hector with destructive aim, Rolled on the fleets of Greece the bickering flame ; Swift in his brawny hand he swings around A dreadful mace, with studs of iron bound. Formed for the naval conflict, rough, and strong, 335 Knotty, and dense, and twice ten cubits long ; With grissly smiles of death he grimly lowered Defied the foe, and to the battle towered. Th' Orion next the surges seemed to plow, {15} With storms and tempests on her golden prow, 34(J Collecting strength, in fury soon to rise, Sweep through the heavens^and rend the vaulted skies. And drive resistless on the hostiie fleet, Commingling hail, and fire, and rattling sleet. Then Agamemnon to the conflict came — (16) 315 Proud of his strength, exulting in his name, Tlie king of men upreared his fourfold crest. Bright flashed the burnished cuirass on his breast ; Firmly he strode before his warrior band?, Shook the keen javelin's lightning in his hands ; 350 To nobler triumphs led his British host?. Than ever graced his unns on Phrygians coast'. Stout Minotaurus scudding swift behind, (IV)- Her canvass pinions stretched before the wind : On her sharp prow the dubious beast was seen, 35& The monstrous offspring of the histful queen. He grinds lik teeth, in ftre his eye-ball rolls^ As when he marked the seven devoted souU : From his wide nostrils pours the scorching blast,. And snorts impatient for the dire repast. 360t At France he darts his furious glance from far. And longs to mingle in the bloody war.. A fair Laconiati armed for warlike deeds, ( 18}> Breathing dismay, the bounding Spartiate leads ; Light on her shoulders hung the quivered store, 565- High in her hand the bended bow she bore y Her massy helm, of many a ductile fold, Shed o'er the waves the gleam of polished gold :■ Keen for the fight — she flies with speed divine. Nor dips her golden bliskins in the brine ;. 370^ Like the fierce Amazon, or Volscian maid. Clothed in bright steel — in dreadful charm« arrayed^. She strikes her raoony-buckler — shakes her lance, And hurls defiance at the fleets of France, In awe-commanding power Britannia rides, $7S With red-cross banner o*er her vassal tides ; Bright on her crest the star of Scctland shone,. Girt was her breast with £riu*8 emerald zone ;■ SO' BATTLE 0-F Her left hand grasped her shield, and in her i-ight, The glittering faulchion thirsted for the fight : 380 She seemed to look exulting o'er the wave, Proud of her strength, and say — " To arms, ye brave.*' Last of' the column, o^er the billows rolled. The ^vcll-armed force of Africa the bold:- The jetty goddess of the burning sands, 38^5 With sharp-ed^ed- sabre ~ flashing in her hands, Frov^rned at the head, and panting to engage. Rolled her keen eye, and kindled all herrage^: Beneath her feet the scutcheoned trophies lay, Borne by the British from Aboukir's bay : S90 With that famed standard, Gallia's highest boast, (19)« Pride of her arms, a:nd glory of her host, That stormed the dreadful pass at Lodi's bridge, And waved in fire o'er many an Alpine ridge. And still had triumphed in the bloody toil, 395 ''Till met by Britain, on th' Egyptian soil ; Its glories fell — with all its guardian traiii, Ne'er deemed, 'till then. Invincible, in vain^ These led by Nelson, Hero of the fleet, Haste the North wing of Villeneuve to meet. 4^ The next long line in war's dread pomp attired, Th' intrepid soul of Collingwood inspired ; With well-tried skill he stemmed the ocean's rage, III battle ardent, and in council sage j TRArALGAR.- 2 J Fame'^s radient glories kindled on his sword, 405; And friendship bound his soul to Bronte's lord. The Royal Sovereign, spreading wide alarms* Bears him, exulting, to the strife of arms t In awful pride her streaming peri'dantfe fly^ Of crimson, green, and heaven's ethereal dfe ;- 4^V0 Ensigns, the boast of every British knight, (2fO) Denouncing rueful fate, and deadly fight ; Her brazen tiers in blackening terrors frown^ To spread the glories of Britannia's crown ; H^r sacred rights a host of warriors guard, 415 Their monarch's praise, their hope 'y his love^ their great reward.. Next o'er the surge, the "Mars proud-nodding camc> With latent fury, and a slumbering flame; Her gallant captain as the decks he trodj- Appeared himself the battle-ruling god ; 4>2(P Brave Duff, his country's ornament and pride^. Who for her glory lived, and nobly died.. A grim BelFona, witH terrific smile^ Panting for battle, leads the stern Bellisle r A statelier vessel, or a crew more brave, 4^S' Ne'er met the foe-,^ nor plowed' the hostile wave. That day, amid the blazing fight she raged j With many a foe th' unequal combat waged ; And though fell ruin, with repeated blasts, Swept Her torn decks, and rent her crackling masts, ^tO^ WI, BATTLE Of O'er France she triumphed, and victorious "bore' HercriiTlsoncd laurels to Britannia's shore* Then came the Tonnant through the keel-cleft tidey> With close-pent thunders on her pitchy side, Eager to burst their prisons' dismal gloom, 435- Heralds of woe, and many a hero's doortu^ Swift through her foamy wake, with triple tiers, ^ And aspect fierce, Bellerophon careers ; Fated to see, by heaven's imperial call,^ Her valued Cooke, her brave commander, fall : 4!'i\^ Illustrious kinsman of the Cooke whose gore. Dyed the cursed corals of Owyhee's shore. } Then huge Col6ssu§ through the billows T6de- In more thah mortal grandeur proudly strode Th' enormous image of her archer god ; (21) 445 Not as he blazed at Rhodes with friendly light, To guide the wanderer through the shades of night: But indignation lightened in his eye,- Bent his dread bow, and bade his quiver fiy \ As when h$ saw his darling son expire,- 450 Struck by the bolt of Jove's tremendous ire ; Maddening with rage, he grasped th' envenomed darts. And shot them furious at the Cyclops' hearts. Next fierce Achilles, o'er the azure field, 3-4 fts the broad splendour of th' immortal shield j 45r5 ■TRAFALGAR. -2^ Sheathfdin refulgeirt panoply divine, He moves in flames along the glancing brine : So stern, so ruthless, so athirst for blood, He strode to battle through Scanianders flood; With direst rage, implacable he burns, 460 And all his fury on Iberia turns ; Shakes the keen spear before his buoyant car. And leads his British myrmidons to war. Swift-to the strife of ocean's" heroes came Th* intrepid force of mighty Polypheme ; 465 Dark frowned her imaged Cyclop o'er the deep, (22) As once he frowned on rougli Trinacria's steep ; When with wild rage he tore the rifted peak, And whirled it, erring, at the wandering Greek. With surer aim, he whirled the moulded ore, 470 To prove his might upon a Galhc prore. Then follows the Revenge — In fury dread, Tisiphone moved raging at the head. Girt with her sister-fiends ; and round her'lay. The dogs of battle panting for their prey ; 475 Blew from their arid jaws the sulphurous breath. Hot as the blast of hell, replete with death : Round her grim visage curl the hissing snakes. Clank tlVe dire chains ; the'blazing torch she shakes ; Wields the long scorpion-lash, at every bound, 480 ■ An^ shAkes dismay, and rueful horrors round. <^4! "BATTLE or With foam-girt sides, the nimble S'A'iftsure files, Pleet as an eagle cuts the liquid skies, (23) When urged by hunger, on the nuu'shalled cranes Ke wings his flight ; — -q^uick through the heavenly plains, 4?85 Trembling they ^y; but he, with furious swoop, Darts like a whirlwind on the screaniijig troop j Pounces, gripes, tears the .unresisting prey ; With blood-tinged plumage strews th* ethereal way ; With piercing beak the reeking entrails I^ An-ayed for battle on his realms of green j Not such a force the Grecian heroes bore, Breathing revenge upon the Trojan shore ; Not with such fleets the indignant Romans came, To fire the Tyrian tov/ers with raging flame ; 20 Nor rich Iberia, when her scornful pride Launched her Armada on the sounding tide ; With vain intent, to pour her mighty hosts On Albion's shores — such potent fleets could boast. Them heaven's dread storms, and Britain's v/helming ire, 25 Sunk in the deep, or cloathed in vengeful fire. (1) Such direful ruin, such inglorious fate, On every proud invader's steps await f The hour he meets insulted Britain's eyes. Her lightnings blast him, and that hour he die?. 30 Alas f how soon shall all this gallant sight, Be wrapt in flames, and death, and lurid nightr Ere gloomy darkness spread her ebon wing. Or eve her shades upon the waves shall fling. The proudest ships that ride the buoyant flood, S5 Shall sink, entombed, beneath a sea of blood j Or burst to pieces in the scorching air. With not a fragment left, to tell they were* No other morn shall heaven permit to rise. On many a French acd British \varrior's eyes j 4© TRAFALGAR*- 53 Tiiiis fatal day shall many a widow mourn, Bending in silence o'er her husband's urn ; The roee on many a virgin's cheek turn pale, And many an orphan sadden at the tale. Almighty power ! whose high eternal sway, 4:5 Conflicting storms and warring floods obey ; To none but thee the awful powers belong, The weak to strengthen, and confound the strong ; To guide the sailor through the boisterous wave, To shield in battle, and in tempests save ; 50 O 'hear my prayer ! display thy guardian power. Protect my country in this fateful hour ; And if thy righteous sentence has decreed, The brave to fall, and Nelson's self to bleed) Let Victory come in angel form confest, o5 To twine her laurels round Britannia's crest. Now in mid sky the sun his glory shrouds, A^s struck with horror in a night of clouds ; The vagrant winds the surge no longer sweep, But every breeze lies slumbering on the deep ; 6.0 No distant fight th' approaching squadrons wage, No threatening sound declare their inward rage j No fate-gorged cannon pours his fiery breath, But all is silent as the sleep of death ; And ere each warrior strikes the menaced blow, €S His heart beats feeble^- and his pulse moves §low. u BATTLE OF But now with half-furled sails the Victory steers, Near the Bucentaur's black terrific tiers ; Each frowns at each, with stern infuriate hate, Horror, and death upon their frowns await :— . 70 Tremendous pause ! — 'till Bronte's mighty lord, '* For God and England" — gives the battle-word,. Quick as the word the nimble lightning runs Along the deck, and fires the volleying guns. Then on mad wing the loosened thunder soars, 75 Then scowling Fury through the battle roars. Then from th' abyss remorseless Discord springs, Storming so loud that heaven's high concave rings ; Girt with grim Terror, Rage, and pale Affright, Around her head she rolls a sudden night, 60 Wide o'er th* encountering fleets her pinions spreads, Rouses her demons from their brimstone beds. Loud on the fiends of death, and havoc cries. And bids the spirits of th' accursed arise. While here, great Bronte urged the growing fight, 85 The Sovereign's hero thundered on the right, Through the strong Anna's ribs of jointed oak, With furious crash his rapid broadsides broke. The Mars and Duff involved in smoke and flame, Swift through the line with hideous ruin came ; 90 So poets paint the ruthless god of war. Rolled by Bellona in her iron car, While the blue lightnings glare around his head,. The groaning axle mounts o'er hills of dead,. TRAFALGAR. 35 Atid raging furies, in immortal speed, 95 LasJi with their snakes each fiery-footed steed. The Swiftsure here with devastating swoop, Poured her dire batteries on a Spanish poop, From stern to stem the sweeping fury tore, Raked the long decks, and marked its path with gore. 100 Lo ! fierce Bellerophon and Cooke advance. Rolling red vengeance on the prows of France ; Ah ! see — ^the hero falls by glory's fires, And in the blaze of victory expires ! Th* Orion, there, upon the prows of Spain^ 105 Drives the dense tempest of her iron rain. Her loud artillery great Britannia plays, And Spaitiate rolls the sanguinary blaze : Here, two Achilles met with equal rage, And there, three Neptunes in the strife engage; 1 10 Above, below, their strong-chained globes are hurled. Their prize the empire of the wateiy world. The dauntless Hero thunders on the flood ; The stern Leander rides o'er waves of blood. Night rolls — fires flash — ^the imps of darkness yell, 115 While Gallic Pluto comes with " blasts from hell,*' And Britain's Thunderer darts her bolts around, Smites the proud foe, and shakes the deep profouud ; As if th' immortals, who on Phrygia*s soil (2) Waged dreadful fight, resumed the glorious toil ; 120 Arms clash on arms, the gods the gods oppose. And earth, and heaven in charge of battle close* 36 BATTLE OF With rapid fires' the reddening billows gloWi Till each brare vessel grapples with her foe ; Loud roars the strife, and fell destruction sweeps, 123 With rage- unbridled- o'er.'tke bellowing 4eeps : Dense clouds of nitrous smoke obscure the day, IThick, and more thicjc the forky lightnings play : Peals upon peals, and peals redeubling roll, 'Till ocean trembles to the utmost pole'.; .130 Such hideous din convulsed the Stygian cdasts. Roared through th' abyss, appalled the startling ghosts. When gloomy Dis the loud alarum rung, And pale witK rage, and mingled terror sprung. As o'er his head earth's flint-ribbed barriers shook, 135 And HelPs foundations^ tremHed at his look, Lest he whose trident shakes the earth and main^ S-hould burst the convex of his dre-ar domain, Pierce the deep centre of the world unknown, And pour heaven's light around th' infernal throne. 1-40 '*Or as all hell, with congregated might. Had rushed rebellious -to- the realms of light. Their adamantine chains asunder riven. And marched in arms to storm. 4:he towers of heaven ; While the bright legions of -th* eternal king, I-IS Cam* sallying foFth iipon-thc thunder's wing, Rolling before them, with impetuous ire, Huge surging billows of devouring fire, 'Till now both hosts swift-rushing from afar, iStopt short—ia horrid shock— then roared the war. 150 TRAFAl^GAH. 37 Tlirough Ether's champaign fearful chaos spread, Wild Ruin stormed, and Nature shrunk with dread. Hell groaned beneath, as Light with Darkness strove. And rocked heaven's crystal battlements above. 'Now every ship with all her powers engaged, 155 And now the hottest of the battle raged ; At each discharge the staggering fleets recoiled, Blood-torrents flowed — the crimsoned surges boiled ; Each hero strove, as if his single might Would gain th' immortal trophies of the fight ; 160 While o'er his head the warrior Thunder strode. And Fate on every ball triumphant rode. What fell confusion roars along the sky ! Masts, yards, and beams in splintery fragments fly ; Loud groans each shattered hulk — the timbers start-^- 165 Bolls spring — ribs shiver — and the planks dispart ~- With many a gaping wound the sides are gored — The shrouds are mangled — thundering by the board. Crashes th' unwieldy mast — " On, on ye brave ! (3) " With maddening horrors let the tempest rave, " For George and England, glory, or the grave (iv 170 V- !" J, By many a various fate the warrior falls, Mid storms of fire, and showers of whistling balls : While one with out-stretched arm exhorts his band, A viewless fury lops th' unconscious hand ; 175 Aghast he looks with ^orror and surprise ! Another fury rends his fractured thighs : D 38 BATTLI- OF A second, while he mounts the tottering mast, Struck bjr the v/hizzing ball's resistless blast, Groans out'his troubled soal ; — a third is borne, 189 Far o'er the surge, in many a fragment torn. One on the giddy top's aerial round, Deep in his temples feels the deadly wound, While V )th (i?f ed eye he marks the distant foe — Lifts the bright tube, and aims th* avenging blow ; 18i In death his fingers press tV elastic springs, And as he falls, th' exploding.musket rings, Another tumbles on the mounds of dead, Struck in the jieck* ?ind shortened by the head ; The trunk with hollow echo falls supine ; 190 Starts the hqt. marrow from the fractured spine ; (4') And round. the slippery deck, with ghastly gUre, The. roiling visage trails the clotted hair. Thus fall th' ins4tiate fees by mutual wounds. With dying groans each hollo,w vessel sounds, 195 The decks are thick bestrewn with heaps of slain. Torn limbs, and shattered bones, and reeking brain : Death stridejs froin ship to ship with sweeping .scythe j On ever)' poop damned fiends of murder wnthe. Demons of carnage ride th* empurpled flood, 200 Champ their fell jaws, and quaff the streaming bloo^. Hard were the task to sing their valiant deeds ; H®w Britain conquers, how the battle bleeds : Not all the grandeur of the Theban lyre. Nor Milton's "harp, nor Homer's muse of ^re# '205 Could' match the theme :— but truth' in simple vest,- From one bold action bids us learn the rest. Amid the thickest fight the Temeraire, Raged as if Nelson's mighty soul were there ; From all her batteries rained the vollled sleet, 210" Bursts through the French, and raked the Spanish fleet. When, chance so orders — two vindictive foes. Sure of their prey, the reeling ship enclose ;" The thundering might of Spain on that side roars, And France on this, her blazing vengeance pours ; 2l^ Till side by side a conquering blow to strike, Each boarder firmly grasps his thirsty pike j They storm the gunnels^ on the deck they spring,- While hell-bom Murder claps His raven wing ; In grim delight he wields the girding sword, 220 Towers at their head, and bids hit warriors board V Ranged back to Back the Britons meet the shock,. Gloomy as fate, and stable as^the rock^ Hot grows the toil along the bloody van,. Where swordhacksswordi-and man encounters man ; 225 Gasping on heaps of slain th* invader lies; Sad o'er the deek resorund his dying cries^ In many a deep, and mingling current runs The blood of France, and Spain's and Britain's sbiie. First in the conflict, with tempestuous-force, 2$0 A youth of Britain urged his fateful coarse ; \ 40 BATTLE OF Dark on his shacled brow sat grim Despair, Gleamed in his eye, and tossed his bushy hair ; Long had his bosom throbbed with love's alarms, And felt the matchless power of Ellen's charms ; 2S5 For Ellen shone with every varying grace, And potent beauty o'er her form and face Shed the sweet magic, that with guileless art, Trills every cord that binds the lover's heart. Nor long against his pleasing suit she strove, 240- But. owned his iafluence, and coafessed her love. And now the nuptial morn appointed shone. To bless their mutual vows, and make them one : The blushing virgin clothed in charms divine, With fluttering heart approached tl^ holy shrine : 345 ■When Fame, in sorrow, brought the dreadful Uuth, That some false fair engaged the fickle youth ; Deep through her gentle soul cold hor»or ran, Yet her meek tongue no curses poured on man ; She wished for death — but heaven denied the boon, 250 And wrapped in Frenzy's shades her mental noon : The beauteous maniac fled the haunts of men, Traced the ^ea-beach, or sought the lonely glen,. He, easy tvictim of. a. slanderous tale., Cursed his hard fate, and fled his native vale ; 255 Deep to his soul Remorse impelled her* dart, Twined her fdl vipers round a wounded heart, TRAFALGAR. 41 And spurred him forward, on his country's foe, To seek in death — a refuge from his woe. But long he sought in vain ;— the trenchant blade, 26^ Rou.id his loose wrist in flaming circles played Like vengeful lightning, burst the dense array. Mowed down the foe, and hewed resistless way* First stout Alcanzor, from the shores of Spain, Felt the keen fury in his spoutfng brain. ^6S Long had he joyed in battle's loud al'arm, Firm was his heart, and valour strung his arm ; But Superstition, still to reason blind, With iron sceptre ruled his darkened mind ; Bravely he dared the British foe to meet, 270 Fired by the dictates of a holy cheat— « That heaven wdWd grant his arms the laurel crown, ** And bind his brow with triumph and renown l" But Alfred's driving steel their virtue tried. And showed his country that the prophet lied. 275 Then fell young Valmont from the bank: of Seine; Fair was his face and faultless as his mein ; But better was he skilled to please the fair. Than mix with heroes in the bristly war. Joined to the ranks of Spain, with proud desire, 280 He raised the tube to aim his missile fire ; But ere he touched the spring, the British swor4> The arm had severed from its trembling lord. Swift through the neck a second blow succeeds, And low in death the gay Parisian bleeds. 285 d2 42 BATTLE OP So falls a lily, lept in sportive mood, By rod of school-boy sauntering through the wood ; His frequent blows the tallest blossoms strike, Thistle and wild-rose feel his rage alike j With flowery spoils earth's fragrant lap he spreads, 290 And thinks he lops stout warrior's crested heads. Then Carlos fell. — From Tagus' golden sands The youth ill-fated led his warlike bands : The rending steel deep entering in his side, Drew through the opening ribs a gory tide. 295 Rushing impetuous to his friend's relief, A.lonzo marked his fall with rage and grief ; .^or virtue's holy laws, and plighted truth, ' a deathless love had bound him to the youth ; Vith keen revenge his ardent bosom burned— SOO )uick on the foe his crimson steel he turned. Fierce as a lion on Caffraria's sands. Whose mate has fallen by the hunter's hands. In love's dread season, when the raging flame Fires his bold heart, and thrills his sinewy frame ; 305 'JRobbed of his joy he roars along the plain. Winds his long tailj, and shakes his horrent mane ; Foam his red eye-ball darts the frequent flash— From his wide jaws, his teeth ferocious gnash : . On the armed foe he springs with sudden bound, 310 And both lie ^lain by many a mutual wound. TRAFALGAR. 43 So fierce Alonzo on the Briton sprung-— Their swords struck fire, and loud their death-clash rung ; One blade had oft been dyed in Moorish gore, One gleamed on Caledonia's hills of yore, 315 What time, in God's and Freedom's holy cause, Wallace and Bruce opposed a tyrant's laws '^ In many a rapid fiery whirl tliey move, Now shine below, and now they glance above : Long in the horrid pastime they delight, 320 And Victory hovers o'er the doubtful fight. At length with gathered strength, upon the foe Th' impatient Britain aims a furious blow ; Close by the ear the thundering blade descends. Swift through the riven jaw a passage rends, S2o And glancing edgeways with a keen control. Through the gashed windpipe free th' indignant soul. But in the instant — at th' unguarded chest, Th' Iberian's ha;nd the rapid steel addressed. With nervous thrust, and pierced the mortal part, 330 Where rolls the vital current from the heart ; Fasts spouts th' arterial gore-~in death he lies. And shades relentless settle on his eyes. O ill-starred,youth ! no maiden o'er thy tomb, Shall pour her precious tears, or mourn thy doom ; 335 But oft thy. injured Ellen's faded form. Wet with $he dew, andrtrembling in the stortnj ^'h RATTLE OT By the wild margia of the lonely deep,- Unconscious of thy fate, shall sit and weep p Or oft, as fancy's pleasiog dreams beguile, 0*er her wan cheek shall steal such mournful smile 3iO* As e*en from iron hearts would force a sigh, Or draw a tear from stem oppression's eye y In geiitlest whispers shall she chide. thy stay,- And bid her soul's first joy — her Alfred come away,- Thus gallant Alfred in the conflict strove,. S4^ And gave to glory what he vowed to love — Thus nobly fell — with many a warlike name,. Strange to the muses, and unknown to fame,- O'er Albion's flag to hoist the ptide of France, Thrice to the charge the eager foes advance, 35©= Thrice from the decks with backward step t-hey reel, Scathed by the lightning of the British- steel. Their scattered powers the Britons quick pursue^ With, arm of thunder, and in pieces hew* So fierce, so terrible they msh idong, SS& Armed with dread fate, as heaven's artillery strong, Tiat every foe with terror wings his flight, Or sinks oppressed in shades of endless night : Quick as they flee like lion-hunted deer, Deep through the back some feel the deadly spear, 360 Some, while they grasp their friendly shrouds expire. Struck by thfc swQrd; or zvfih pursuing fire ; TRAFALGAR^ 4^ Hurled in the wave, with spouting rills of gore. They mark their downward path, and rise no more, While others, ere they reach the flashing tides, 865; Are caught and crushed between the jostling sides.. Loud shouts of tMumph from the victors rise, (5). Roll o'er the main, and echo io the skies* While thus the combat rages far and wide,: The Victory furious on Bucentaur*s side 370- Rained such tremendous force of iron shower^, As no terrestial — no created power Could long withstand :—^ne horrid broadside sped,, And twice two hundred on the decks lay dead : (6} Through all her crashing length the vessel feels, 3X5. The hurricane of death- — and starts and heels :. The guns disroounted by the shattering blow^. Roll headlong, thundering, crushing all below— - The decks are shivered — every timber shakes- Tremble the reeling masts — thebatteredfabric and fruitless rage ^ 4S lATTLE OF Another broadside with infuriate sweep, Would ¥end and whelm hi« vessel in the deep— SdO' His mighty spirit bends to fortune's laws, And owns the triumph af Britannia^g cause ; But yet with tardy hand to Bronte's lord. He strike's his flag, and yields the captive sword. (*7) While Gonqucsi here to Britain's standard turned, 395: Slern in the fight the French Achilles burned: But as her fires with swift destruction flew,. Caught by th* unguarded flame, in air she blew : (8), From the'-«trong, sides the heaving decks up.torn. With fearful burst, on fiery whirlwinds borne, 400 Far through the regjoais of the blackening sky. With booming speed, and deadly ruin fly : The glowing timbers shoot portentous glare, The wheeled artillery thunder in the air,- And mangled victims in the storm expire, 405- Whirled to the clouds in mingled smoke and fire.- Far o'er the billows glance the sanguine rays. Ether's Wide concave reddens with the blaze : The hostile fleets with strange concussions reel, And heaven and earth the dire explosion feel. 410 So burning uEtna, with tremendous roat^ Rocks on her base, and shakes Sicilians shore. Spouts mineral torrents to the molten skies. Involved in flame, and spreading. as they rise ;, TRAFALGAR. ^7 While feverish Fancy thinks the Prince of Hell, 4^15 •Roars in' the blast, and all the damned rebel ; The red tornado of the blaze bestride, And armed with rage through heaven careering ridcc But Bronte sees unmoved the tempest roll- To other conquests. turns his mighty soul, 42D And thus accosts his ten-or-bri&atliing bands :— . <*.Another triumph now your arms demands: •* Lo ! on yon ship the Spanish banners ^leam, •* The haughtiest ship that swims the ocean-stream ; ** Close to her fires our ship triumphant guide, 4^5 ** And try the combat glorious side by side ; •** On Vincent's. day she owned our naval reign, (9) <* Though chance returned her to the arms of Spain, ^* To day we meet — nor .fate shall part us more, ** Till deep they sink us, or our prize restore," 430 He said — the helm th* obedient pilots steer : In towering might the gallant ships draw near; Proud as they move the deadly fight to wage, Frowning defiance, and relentless rage, A gloomy shade each pitchy bulwark throws, 435 Each warrior sternly marks th' advancing foes, JNFearer they come— yet nearer— hark ! they close. As if the moon by wrathful nature hurled, The spell dissolved that guides her round the world, In fierce encounter met this earthly ball, 440 And threatening skies portended insUnt fall ; '} "48 Hxt'tle o> So fiercely met Iberia's floating tower, And Albion's ship, in all their deadly pcnver ; Their chafing sides in dire -commotion crash. And yards on yards wish crackling fury clash ; 445 Like breaking clouds loose driving in the blast, Plaps the rent canvas on the splintered mast. And every warrior staggers with the shock, As each, full-sailed, had struck a storm-lashed rock, When Bronte thunders*--^" to decide the fight, 450 <* Quick lash her to — and leave no chance for flight :" With equal rage the Spanish warriors cry, " Quick lash her to-"We conquer or we die." Grim at their posts th' undaunted sailors stand, Quick glides the binding rope through every hand, 455 With winding chains the hostile prows are tied. And grasping irons seize each adverse side. Now each bound ship more awful lifts her form, With rage more fell they hurl the ceaseless storm : Gun roars at gun, and tier from tier rebounds, 460 The dismal crash through each black ship resounds ; Shocks upon shocks convulse their opening frames. And both seem closely wrapped in smouldering flames : So close th' artillery played, the blazes fired (10) Each pitchy side, and fast the flames aspired : 465 Thence had they spread, impatient of delay. Round each black ship, with unresisted sway ; TRAFALGAR. *9 But calm and fearless in the jaws of death, Before th' opposing cannons* murderous breathy The British tars arrest the rapid flash, 470 And round the blazing ports the briny torrents dash. While thus below the fierce artillery strive, Thick from ahove the leaden tempests drive ; The rapid fires the well-armed tops illume, And flashing through the dense sulphureous gloom, 4*75 In awful splendour to each warrior show, Where grimly lowers the smoke-enveloped foe. Such floods of .fire through fields of ether stream, (11) Pour from the pole, in billowy splendour gleam. When Nature revelling with the Northern Morn, 480 Bids her dread charms night's ebon throne adorn, Wide o'er the skies th* electric radiance plays, While boding nationsv trembling as they gaze, See glittering legions to the charge advance — Swordsburn, shields clash, and foamingchargerspranc€,485 Denouncing horrid war, and death, and woe, In justice sent to scourge the world below. O then the horrors of the fight beg'an, Foe marked his foe, and man lay slain by man, The chiefs were singled from the hostile train, 490 Fate frowned more dark, new thunders shook the main -, As all the furies of each adverse fleet, il'd^ here resolved in dreadful shock to meetj S6 BATTLE OF A s only here tHe fiends of strife engaged.; And here the Spirit of the battle raged ; 495 And Death loud storming from a nitrous cloud Waved the long banner of his sable shroud, Shook ruin down, and grinned with horrid joy, Tired his bold sons, ferocious to destroy, And while the smoaking corses dashed -the wave, 500 Snuffed the hot steam of gore fast^ushing from the brave i For Carnage heated hy the bloody strife, Swept on more fierce, more prodigal of life : Now on bold wing o'er each dark vessel soared, Now between decks with all its phalanx roared ; 50a Knee-deep in blood around the area played. And bared his reeking arn;, and whirled his bickering bladcc In all the horrors of the rueful scene, With heart unshaken — dauntless and serene. Involved in stench, and smoke, and brimstone night, 5il0 The godlike Bronte urged .the glowing fight : JLike Britain's genius on the poop he trod. Armed with the terrors of th' avenging god i As when emerging from his pearly realm. Some strong Armada in the deep to whelm; 515 Beneath his feet th' embattled -clouds are spread, Storm, fire, and darkness rage around his head.; Proud on his roaring cliffs^ erect he stands. Wields heaven's red thunder in his giant hands ; Whirls with sure aim the brandished bolt on high, 590 And gives devouring lightiung wings to ily. TRAFALGAR. ' 51 As fiercely round him blazed th* infuriate strife, Roused Friendship trembled for the hero's life : For oKhis breast a glittering trophy shone, Britannia's star — the honours of the throne ; 525 (Such honours oft mysterious fate bestows, (12): To tempt the valiant, or to death expose ; ) She saw his danger, and in foresight sage, To save her Nelson from the marksman's rage. With fond persuasion, grasped his hand and cried— 530- ** O i lay this fete-attracting charm aside : ** The foes to missile war inured and bred, " Hurl at our bravest sons the vengeful lead 5 ♦• Should Britain's star once meet their eager eye, •* Impelled by fate a thousand balls would fly— 535 ** O ! let not Friendship, Wisdom vainly plead, •* Lest mourning Albioa in her hero bleed.'' But vain- V ere W6rds his fixed resolve to bend. He shunned the counsel, though he loved the friend. •* No ! ne'er, he said, shall Fame's censorious voice, 510 ** Repeat the tale, nor Britain's foes rejoice, ** That dastard Fear, with palsied hand, unbraced ** The royal gift that Nelson's bosom graced ! " Ne'er let the British star by fraud, or art, " Shine with false glory on a coward heart 1 545 ** Through storms of fire and death this star shall gloW; *[ And stream its lightning oa my country's fo^" BATTLE OF Too valiant chief !-^thy own unconquered fire, Devours thy life, and Friendship's hopes expire ! The keen sharp-shooters whose tremendous skill, BcjO As fate unerring, boasts the power to kill, Marked, faintly shining through the gloom from far, The silver radiance of the British star* Among them stood a veteran known to fame, Who ruled their force, Gon salvo was his name ; 555 To hurl the fatal lead was all his joy, The sport that pleased the man, had charmed the bof ; Long had he joyed the wintry game to trace, And urge in summer's heat the ardent chace : With rapid balls the flying deer he tore, 5^0 Or poured his vollies pn the tusky boan Thus had he reigned the terror of the woods, *Till Fame allured him to the warring floods In quest of nobler prey — he quickly spied The shining gloty, and transported Grkd J^— ' 565 *" Lo ! my brave sons where Britain's boldest knight^ ** Girt with his heroes, animates the fight, ** To day what- glories would our arms emblaze, ** What solid trophies of eternal praise ! ** If heaven should prosper our resistless art, 570 «* And guide this bullet to the lion's heart. ** Ye saints to whom my native land is dear, •* Whose names we reverence, and whose powers we fear, ** Accept our vows, and on your holiest shrine, ♦' Shail Britain's star, a glorious offering shine ; 575 ^ O ! grant our prayer ! — destroy this scourge of Spain, " This lord of fate, this terror of the main !" He said — they levelled — and the tempest flew — ■ They erred from Bronte, but his heroes slew : — First brave Adair their ruthless vengeance feels, 580 And o'er the deck in life's last effort reels, From Erin's isle, and Antrim's happy -dime. Whose vales romantic, and whose shores sublime, Oft charmed his soul — the youthful warrior came, Fired with high hopes of never-dying fame ; 585 Nor vain hi^ hopes, though fate had sealed his doom In life's gay morn, or manhood's opening bloom : The moulded lead impetuous v/inged its way, Ruahed through the brain, and tore his life away. O happy youth ! thrice happy thus to die, 590 Blest in th' ennobling cause of liberty ! For thee shall Lagan's nymphs their chaplets twine, With Nelson's honours joy to mingle thine ; And Erin's bards in fame-inspiring lays, Shall fire their youth to emulate thy praise. S9Z Then prone in death the valiant Palmer falL', Smote on the bosom by a shower of balls : So falls a stately oak that long had stood, In branching pride, the glory of the wood. Long shaken to and fro ; till heaven at last, 60'^ With forky lightning, and the rending blast, E 2 54. BATTLE OF Strikes through its stubborn strength — with crashing sound, Thundering it falls, and hills, and vales resound. But fires more furious next in gores extend, Heroic Scott, immortal Nclson*s friend, 605 Sudden he fell, beside his warlike train, Shorn by a furious thunderbolt in twain. Thou too, O Hardy ! in that bloody strife, Hadst left at glory's shrine thy noble life. Unless some angel swift at heaven's command, 610 Had o'er thee held his tutelary hand. Turned the thick storm of whistling balls away, Or bade them round thee " innocently play»" As Nelson sees his bravest warriors die^ Grief moves his heart, hie heaves a pitying sigh, 615 And while the stunning peals incessant roll, Thus pours in silent prayer his fervent soul : — (13) • *' Great God of battles ! whose almighty power, *' Hath been my shield in many a trying hour'; *' ThoU, who so oft hast bade thy angels bless 6i?0 •* Britannia's arms, and mine, with great success ; *' O once again with favouring eye look down, •* Defend our cause, oUr fleets wiih glory crown ; *** I ask not life — but hear, O hear my prayer ! ♦* Spare my bra'vc bcroef, g'-iardiail Father, t^n^: ' (>'2o TRAFALGAii S'^ *« Grant them that mercy thou hast shown to me ; " While I, obedient to thy kind decree, ** Here for my country pour my latest breath,— 'Iis hand ennobled by great Bronte slain. The brave: Baltazar, Spain's iliustri'ous chief, Sighed at theirfall, with mingled shame and grief : 'diis heroes slaughtered, and- his hopes all fled, * And girt ivith smoaking hillocs o^ the dead, 685 He sees fell Ruin s^veep tK- ensanguined deck, ' His ship dismasted— shattered to a wreck, ' Faint, and more fajnt her languid efforts groir, Through many ?c gaping wound^ the surges iTow, Till now half-sinking' in the whelming tide, 690* His flag he strikes, and bows his heart of pride. The thrice repeated loud heart -thrilling cheer. Conveyed the triumph to the victor's ear ; While in his friend's supporting arms he lay. And life's retreating floods ebbfed fast away. 695 Joy, fluttering cherub,' to his bosom stole, ' New strung his nerves, and cheered his manly soul ; And Victory too, her dying son carest. Dropped her sweet influence on his wounded breast, And while his brows wijii deathjess fame she bound, 700- Poured in his ear the heart -dilating sound ; ** Britannia triumphs — Glory sheathes the sword, •* And mighty navies hail thee conquering lord."; ^ BATTL£ OF TRAFALGAR. Charmed by the sound what new emotions rlsf , And thrill his bo3om, as rejoiced he cries \ — •' 705 « O bless, ray soul ! O blest th* Almighty King, ** His be the praise from whona nl} glories spring 1"—^ Rapt in 3eTotiion paused' the godlike man. Then with benignant smile again began :— •* Ere life be closed — ^my brave heroic crew, 7iO •* Receive My !ove^»-my fohdfest, last, adieu ! •* And to my honoured, noble compeer, tell, •* Dying, I bid my Collingwood farewell : «* O may he long, with arm puissant, guide ** The red-crosB flag in triumph o'er the tide, 715= '••'Its haughtiest foes, with might resistless, brave, ** And tell the world, — ^ Britapnia rules the wave.* ** For me — ^the bounty of indulgent heaven ** The death of heroes to my prayer has given : •< *Tvvas all I asked— I kiss the friendly rod— 720' ** My king, my country ! bless them, O my God V^ He said, his fleeting spirit v,-inged her flighty To peacefsl regions of celestial light. THE EStf* NOTES TO BOOK THE FIRST. ^ -rjniumm o tLUU) mm m m uMM mi— mLVinxumm ^ NOTES TO BOOK THE FIRST. Kcte 1 — line 32. <* Bronte's dread lord, that thunderbolt of war/* Scipiades, belli fulmen, Carthagiais horror. LUCR. , duo fulxnina belli Scipiades. VIRG, The title of Duke of Bronte, and the annexed fief, were conferred on Lord Nelson, by Ferdinand the IVth. king of the two Sicilies, as a mark of gratitude for Iiaving " reconquered his kingdom, and placed him on the throne." It is remarkable that Bronte is the Greek of thunder. Note 2— lines 45-46. **As erst when France, at Nile's affrighted flood, " Tinged the blue billow with her children's blood/' The celebrated battle of the Nile was fought on the 1st of Au- gust, 1798, On the morning of that day the French fleet was F e2 ' NOTES TO rilicovereJ mooretl in. the bay of Abcukir. "As all the ofF.cers of oai- squadron were totally unacquainted with Aboukir bay, each ship kept sounding as she stood in. The enemy appeared to be moored in a strong and compact h'ne of battle, cloee in with the shore, the line describing an obtuse angle in its form, flanked by numerous gun-boats, four fri^-ates, and a battery of guns and mor- tars on an island in their van The position of the enemy pre- sented the most formidable obstacles, but the Admiral viewed them with the eyes of a seaman, determined on attack, and it in- stantly 6truck.his eager and penetrating niind, that where there was room for one sliip to sv;ing, there was room for another of curs to anchor. No further signal was necessary than that which had already been made. The Admiral's designs were fully known to the whole squadron, as was his determination to conquer or perish in the attempt." The result was what might he expected from such a heroic determination. The whole of the enemy's fleet, with the exception of two ships of the line and two frigates, were taken or destroyed, in the battle. Ncte 3 — lines 39-40. " Or, wlien the Baltic, round his windiBg shore, " Heard the dread voice of Britain's thunder roar ;" The memorable victory of Copenhagen was gained on April 2d, 1801. A victory of the utmost importance to the welfare of England, as it dissolveti that formidable confederacy of the Northern Powers, known by the name of the '• Armed Neutrality." — See an anhnated and interesting description of this battle in Carr's Nor- thern Summer, or Travels round the Baltic, through Deiiaiark, Sweden, &c. — Boon: TiiL riRsr. 63 «•' '.Vliile thy bold squcidron winged the iron sleet, ** That smote her ranks, and swept her widowed street." How quick they wheel'd, and flying, behind them shot Sharp sect of arrowy shower. MILTOV, Iron sleet of arrowy shower Hurtl;63 in the darkened air. <* It may be difficult to mark the exact boundary of what should be termed plagiarism : where the sentiment and expression are both borrowed without due acknovv'Ied^ment, th.n-e can be no doubt : — single words, on tiie contrary, taken from other authors, cannot convict a Avriter of plagiarism : they are lawful game, wild by nature; the property of all wh^ can ca^'^ture tliem — and, per- haps, a few common flowers of speech may be gathered as we pass our neighboar's inclosure, without stigmatizing us with the titla cf thieves, but we must not therefore plunder his cultivated fruit." DARWIN. Note 5 — lines 91-92. " Th' unconscious sailors sung their Nelson's name, " Proud of their chief, and glorying in his fame." The reception of Lord Nelson a; the fleet, which he joined on t^he 2F,th of September, speaks beyond the power of language, tliC high estimation in which he was held by those under his command. The following i? an extract from a letter to one of his friend 3j dated aboi^t a fortnight before the battle :— 64f NOTES TO *« The reception I met with on joining the fleet, caused the sweetest sensations of my life. The officers who came on board to welcome my return, forgot my rank as commander in chief in the enthusiaim with which they greeted me. As soon as these emotions were past, I laid before them the plan I had previously arranged for attacking the enemy, and it was not on'y my pleasure to find it generally approved, but clearly perceived and understood. The enemy are stillin port, but jomething must be immediately done to provoke or lure them to a battle. My duty to my country demands it, and the hopes centered in me, I hope in God, will be realized. In less than a fortnight expect to hear from me, or of me — for who can foresee the fate of battle ? Put up your prayers for my success, and may God protect all my friends." In a letter of a prior date, he says : — « I believe my arrival was most welcome, not only to the com- mander of the fleet, but also to every individual in it ; and when I came to explain to them my plan of attack, it was like an electric shock— some shed tears, all approved. It was new ; it was singu- lar ; it was simple ; and from admirals downwards it was repeat- ed — it muit succeed, if ever they wiil allow us to get at them." For illustrntion of the lines, which immediately follow those which introduced this note, it may not be unnecessary to observe, that Nelson, at the age of 12, went on board the Raisonable, of 64 guns. He afterwards accompanied Lord Mulgrave in his voyage of discovery to the North Po'e. The following anecdote, is re- corded as a proof of his intrepidity, when he was only a boy : — " In these high northern latitudes the nights are generally clear ; during one of them, notwithstanding the extreme bitterness of the cold, young Nelson was missing, and every search was instantly made In quest of him, and it was imagined he was lost ; when lo ! as the rays of the rising sun opened the distant horizon, to the BOOK THE FIRST. 65 astonishment of his mess'-np.tes, he was discovered at a considera- ble distance on the ice, armed with ,a single musket, in anxious pursuit of an immense bear. The lock of the piece having reen ra>-ed, it woM.ld not go off; he h:id tlierefore pursued the animal in hopes of tiring him,and at length was able to effect his purpose wich the but-end. Being reprimanded for leaving the ship with- .out leave, the young hero replied, ' I wished, sir, to get the skin ' - ;■'-- fiither." Note 6— line 112. *' And Erin's wolf-dogs claimed the fight in vain." « The Irish v/olf-dogs, being creatures of great strength and size, and of a fine shape," may be considered as no less characterestic of Irish, than the Lion of English warriors. They have been esteem- ed as presents fit for kings ; of which there is an instance in Sir Thomas Rowe, Ambassador to the great Mogul, who obtained large favours from that Monarch on account of a present of those dogs, which he made him in 1615. There is extant in the Rolls- office of Ireland, a privy seal from King Henry VIII. obtained at the suite of the Duke of Alberkyrke, of Spain, (who was of the privy council of Kenry VIII.) for the delivery of two gos-hawks, and four Irish greyhounds, to the Spanish Marquis of Dessaraya and his son, and the survivor of them, yearly ; which shows the value put by foreigners on such presents." salmon's Geography. f2 6(i NOTES TO Note 7— lines ICjI-132. ** Escaped that dreadful day, before the gale, *' Iij one swift ship, he spread the flying sail" VJlleneuve escaped from the battle of the Nile in the Guillaumt' TelJ, and to(;k refuge in the bay of Ma'ta. The Penelope com- manded by Captain Blackwood was stationed, by Lord Nelson, to watch her motions. « Under cover of a dark night and a gale of wind she attempted to elude the vigilance of this gallant ofiicer, and had cleared the harbour when she was attacked by the Pene- lope, mked and otherwise so roughly damaged in her yards and ^^tog^'-g 3s to enable our ships to come up, and capture her at day break." Note 8— lines 117-1 iS. " Ranged in the van, three h;fty squadrons liehn " Their course resounding through the liquidrealm ;'* For the satisfaction of the reader the "following correct list of the FreEch and Spaniih line of battle," is here inserted: — GRAND FLEET. Van. F. Le P uton , 74 F. L'lndomptable ,.. 80 S El Monarca 74 S El San Justo 74 F. Le Fougueux - 74 F. L'Intrepide 74 S. La Santa Anna, Admiral F. Rhin, frigate,...,.. «. . 40 Gardccjui^.. ...... 112 Centre. F. RcdouV-t;iMe..: ... . " '^ ^ La ?rinti'?ima Tr-ni- BOOK THE FIRST. 67 K Le Neptune 81 F. Le Heros..;.... .'• 'J't F. LeBuctntaure, Admiral S, El San Agustin 74 Viileneuve,,.. . 80 F. L'Hortense, frigate, 40 F. La Fiiret, brig, ... • 1* Rear. F. Le Montblanc 74 S. El Rayo .' 1CK> S. Sn. Francisco De Asis.... 74 F. Le Scipion 74 F Le Dugnay Trouin 74 S. El Neptune -• • ^O F. Le Formidable, Rear F. La Cornelie, frigute, 40 Admiral Dumanoir, 80 FLEET OF OBSERVATION. Rear Divssion. S. El San Juan Nepomir- F. Achille 74 ceno 74 S El San Ildephonso 74 F. Le Berwick 74 F. L'Argonaut 74 S. El Principe de Asturias, F. Le Thames, frigate, 40 Admiral Gravina.... 1!2 F. L'Argus, brig IG^ Second Division F. Le Swiftsure ... 74' S El J^.Tontanoaz : .. 74 S El Argonanta....... = .... 80 F. L'Aigle 74 F. L'Algesiras, Rear- Ad- S. La Baliama 74 miral Megou.. 74 F. L'Hermoine, frigate 40 Total. French ships of the Line 18 Spanish ditto 15.33 Frigates 5 Brigs , '^ Note 9 — line 208, « Craunched their fell jaws, and snuffed their coming prey ;" Thoii?-h the v/ord' croMnch be net used, as far as the author 6$ NOTES TO knows, by any modern poet, he has ventured to adopt it on the autliority of Spencer zud Swii't, Note 10— lines 223-224. " The dread command comes tingling on the ear, *' F.ilc grows each cheek, with strange unwoiUcd fear :" The eve of a battle is a season of su?sper.S3 and terror, ten fold more terrille than the action itself. It is therefore no derogation from the character of the firmest heroes to feel deeply impressed with that ' unwonted fear,' which the author describes. The great master of the epic lyre, has described the Trojans as trembling for their hero, and Kector himself as seized with emotions of dread. The Greeks were affected in a similar manner at the challenge of Hector. 01 V K^a orav7if axm Iy£vjv7a s-iaiTtl Note 11— lines 239-24©. <* Light o'er the curling surges others bound, « To the shrill fife's, and drum's, and trumpet's sound." BOOK THE FIRST. 6IC *» List where sottl- moving music floats around* « Inspiring tune — ' Britannia rules the waves'— " Cheer following cheer, from every ship resounds ; ** The meaning — « Britons never will be slaves.'* Note 12— Ime 303. *' The Norman William at her bowsprit shone.'^" The author in describing the dlfFeren t ships of the British fleet, has obeyed the impulse of fancy, regulated, however, by what seems to him a principle of propriety, in affixing to the head of each, a figure corresponding to her name. He has discovereii since the first part of the poem came from the press, that the Con- queror had the bust of Alexander the Great — but how was he to know from the name of rhe ship that this bust was the most ap- propriate ? — might it not with equal propriety, have been that of Cyrus or Caesar ! William the Conqueror first rose to the imagi- nation; and the historical fact, to which the author alludes in the description, is honourable to the British nation. It is said that William was of the enormous stature of eight het, and his bow, like the bow of Ulysses, would bend to no arm. but its master's. If the reader prefer Alexander to William he may read :-▼ The world's great victor at her bov/sprit shone, And seemed to lead Britannia's heroes on, * It is customary for the bands of th$ different ships to play same /«- spiring tune on going to battle, — " Hearts of Oak, \5'c'* At the Nile^ every ship possessing a band, struck up — " God save the King, as ive doubled the island^ and bore doxvn upon the van of the enemy. M. B.. TQ N0T2S TO As when he boldly 8t^mni:ie4th.e Gresnlc wnvet, Tc meet proud Pt rgi^'s.rtjitr.ed hobts of slavvti j Before rhe l^osom of rhe snorting steed, Swift as he riioves th trembling waves recede : High towers the ostrich crest, of dazzh'ng white, Like the long tresses of the god of h'ght : His sword's bright radiance in the burning air, Flan ed like a co?vet's scintillating hair; Or like the scorching fires of Lybian Jove, Shot terror on the foe, and fierce on Gallia drove. The < world's great victor' was shot away in the battle. He is to be succeeded by the hero of Trafalgar, clothed in panoply o£ Note 13 — line 313. '* Boil as lie moves, rmd mark his hoary track."" He maketh the deep to boil like a pot ; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment^ r he maketh a path to shine after him: — one would think the deep to be hoary. job x!I. SI, 32. Note l-4~lines 327-52S. ** Her giant warrior, clothed in shining arms, *' Hastes, with long strides, to meet the war's alarms :" BOOK TTTE FIS.ST. 71 Th2 author Ii:-.s followed Pope in renderlr^g '^vrov a mace, though it properly Signifies a spear. It is worthy of remark that this most excellent poet in his translaticn has omitted the epithet vKvf/ci;(^ov, " formed for the naval conflict," ^u£jx,etiu>coiri-yr'/};i^t>, t-Luo and tiveniy cubits, an expression which cannot pioperly stand ia English heroic verse. Note IJ— lines 339,340. ** Th' Orion next the surges seemed to plow, ** With storms and tempests on her golden prow." Armatumque auro circumspicit 0-iona. — subito assurgens fluctu nirabosus Orion. Dam pelago desxvit hyems, et aquosus Orion. Note 16~line S4i;. ■*• Then Agamemnon to the conflict came," - \v ^ kvrat ilv(rcC\o vo}oo<7fa. ^xXxcv Kv^tooin', on TTcijri ^srt'Z'oi-Tnv 'houicrc-iv' ••"•>. .»'—J\urfold crest Tsr^x'poiX'/.oov. Note 1 /--lines S5S, G54, ** Stout Minotaurus scudding swift behind, " Her canvass oinions stretched before the wind j'-* trS KOTES TO Turn pcndere poena?, Cecropldie jussi (miserum) septena quotannis Corpora natorum. «******» ************** Hie crudelis amor Tauri, supposta que furto Paslphae, mist umque genus, prolesque biformis, Minocaurus inest Veneris monimenta nefandx. Note 18 — lines 363, (164. '* A fair Laconian armed for warlike deeds, *• Breathing dismay, the bounding Spartiate leads j** Virginia os habitumque gerens, et virginis arma Spartanje : Namque hnmeris de more habilem suspenderat arcuni» Mare per medium, fluctu suspensa tumenti Ferret iter ; celeres nee tirgeret aequore plantas. Note 19--lia23 391-3D2. *' V/ith that famed standard, Gallia's highest boast, ** Pride of her arms, and glory of her host :" *' A standard covered with the military exploits of the corps (the invincibles) to which it belonged:" Irisciibed on it were the fo. lowing testimonials of its renown in war. Le Patsage de la Seriviii, le Patsage da Tagl'iavicnto^ le Passage dc V Isojizo^ le Prise de Graz, le Pont de Lcdi, In the battle of Aiexiiiidrla, fought on the 2 1 St of March 1801, tiiis stand wd was takec by the British troops. BOOK THE FinST. YS* Note 20— line 411. "4< Ensigns, the boast of every British knight ;*' The different orders of British knighthood, the Garter, the Bath, and the ThistJe, are respectively distinguished by blue, crimson, and green ribands. In the battle of the Nile — « Nelson was so entirely resolved tD conquer, or perish in the attempt, that he led into the action with six ensigns or flags, viz. red, white and blue, flying In diffier- ent parts of the rigging ; he couM not bear to reflect on the pos- sibility of his colours being carried away by a random shot froni the enemy. Note 21 — line 445. «^ Th' enormous image of her archer god ;" It it said that the famous statue of Apolls, known by t!ie name' of the Colossus of Rhodes, held a lamp in his hand to serve as a Kght-house. The other circumstances referred to, in thrS descrip- tion, are well known to the Classical reader. Note 22~lines 466-467. « Dark frowned her imaged Cyclop o*er the deep, « As once he frowned on rough Trinacria's steep i*' ^ i'^ura ;\;«X«; /^aAA AAaaa i^itoaS; /^•/.^ r> /^ ^aaaaa^;. «"*eA»«A' W/TiHP aA. nn'^M )AaA ^^/C^/^/:^ *^/^?S^/^f^.; mry^A jBfi^y^ ,AAr\ 5gg§^a«goigr: ,,,, ^^A/^ /^ ^ i^n\/^y^ W' ^ \/^r\r\r\rff^t\r^^.r\i < AA'A fti. ^'T\aAaa r\r\A, ''^' A A'A '^ *^«yP^^^^'^^