The immortal Schellenberg appears at last: Like hills the aspiring ramparts rise on high, Like valleys at their feet the trenches lie; _130 Batteries on batteries guard each fatal pass, Threatening destruction; rows of hollow brass, Tube behind tube, the dreadful entrance keep, Whilst in their wombs ten thousand thunders sleep: Great Churchill owns, charmed with the glorious sight, His march o'erpaid by such a promised fight. The western sun now shot a feeble ray, And faintly scattered the remains of day; Evening approached; but, oh! what hosts of foes Were never to behold that evening close! _140 Thickening their ranks, and wedged in firm array, The close-compacted Britons win their way: In vain the cannon their thronged war defaced With tracts of death, and laid the battle waste; Still pressing forward to the fight, they broke Through flames of sulphur, and a night of smoke, Till slaughtered legions filled the trench below, And bore their fierce avengers to the foe. High on the works the mingling hosts engage; The battle, kindled into tenfold rage _150 With showers of bullets and with storms of fire, Burns in full fury; heaps on heaps expire; Nations with nations mixed confus'dly die, And lost in one promiscuous carnage lie. How many generous Britons meet their doom, New to the field, and heroes in the bloom! The illustrious youths, that left their native shore To march where Britons never marched before, (O fatal love of fame! O glorious heat, Only destructive to the brave and great!) _160 After such toils o'ercome, such dangers past, Stretched on Bavarian ramparts breathe their last. But hold, my Muse, may no complaints appear, Nor blot the day with an ungrateful tear: While Marlborough lives, Britannia's stars dispense A friendly light, and shine in innocence. Plunging through seas of blood his fiery steed Where'er his friends retire, or foes succeed; Those he supports, these drives to sudden flight, And turns the various fortune of the fight. _170 Forbear, great man, renowned in arms, forbear To brave the thickest terrors of the war, Nor hazard thus, confused in crowds of foes, Britannia's safety, and the world's repose; Let nations, anxious for thy life, abate This scorn of danger and contempt of fate: Thou liv'st not for thyself; thy queen demands Conquest and peace from thy victorious hands; Kingdoms and empires in thy fortune join, And Europe's destiny depends on thine. _180 At length the long-disputed pass they gain, By crowded armies fortified in vain; The war breaks in, the fierce Bavarians yield, And see their camp with British legions filled. So Belgian mounds bear on their shattered sides The sea's whole weight, increased with swelling tides; But if the rushing wave a passage finds, Enraged by watery moons, and warring winds, The trembling peasant sees his country round