"To combat with the waves who first essayed, "Had these gay groves his lightsome heart beguiled, "His heart, attracted by the charming shade, "Had changed the deep sea for the woody wild; "And slighted all the gain that Neptune yields "For Damon's cottage, or Palemon's fields. "His barque, the bearer of a feeble crew, "How could he trust when none had been to prove her; "Courage might sink when lands and shores withdrew, "And feeble hearts a thousand deaths discover: "But Fortitude, tho' woes and death await, "Still views bright skies, and leaves the dark to fate. "From monkey climes where limes and lemons grow, "And the sweet orange swells her fruit so fair, "To wintry worlds, with heavy heart, I go "To face the cold glance of the northern bear, "Where lonely waves, far distant from the sun, "And gulphs, of mighty strength, their circuits run. "But how disheartening is the wanderer's fate! "When conquered by the loud tempestuous main, "On him, no mourners in procession wait, "Nor do the sisters of the harp complain.-- "On coral beds and deluged sands they sleep, "Who sink in storms, and mingle with the deep. "'Tis folly all--and who can truly tell "What storms disturb the bosom of that main, "What ravenous fish in those dark climates dwell "That feast on men--then stay, my gentle swain! "Bred in yon' happy shades, be happy there, "And let these quiet groves claim all your care." So spoke poor Ralph, and with a smooth sea gale Fled from the magic of the enchanting shore, But whether winds or waters did prevail, I saw the black ship ne'er returning more, Though long I walked the margin of the main, And long have looked--and still must look in vain! [141] From the edition of 1809. In 1788 this was entitled "The Lost Sailor;" in 1795, "Argonauta." THE POLITICAL BALANCE[142] Or, The Fates of Britain and America Compared A Tale _Deciding Fates, in Homer's stile, we shew, And bring contending gods once more to view._ As Jove the Olympian (who both I and you know, Was brother to Neptune, and husband to Juno) Was lately reviewing his papers of state, He happened to light on the records of Fate: In Alphabet order this volume was written-- So he opened at B, for the article Britain-- She struggles so well, said the god, I will see What the sisters in Pluto's dominions decree. And first, on the top of a column he read "Of a king with a mighty soft place in his head, "Who should join in his temper the ass and the mule, "The third of his name, and by far the worst fool: "His reign shall be famous for multiplication, "The sire and the king of a whelp generation: "But such is the will and the purpose of fate, "For each child he begets he shall forfeit a State: