Roused from his trance, he mounts with eyes aghast; When o'er the ship, in undulation vast, A giant surge down rushes from on high, And fore and aft dissever'd ruins lie. As when, Britannia's empire to maintain, Great Hawke descends in thunder on the main, Around the brazen voice of battle roars, 450 And fatal lightnings blast the hostile shores; Beneath the storm their shatter'd navies groan; The trembling deep recoils from zone to zone-- Thus the torn vessel felt the enormous stroke, The boats beneath the thundering deluge broke; Tom from their planks the cracking ring-bolts drew, And gripes and lashings all asunder flew; Companion, binnacle, in floating wreck, With compasses and glasses strew'd the deck; The balanced mizen, rending to the head, 460 In fluttering fragments from its bolt-rope fled; The sides convulsive shook on groaning beams, And, rent with labour, yawn'd their pitchy seams. They sound the well, [42] and, terrible to hear! Five feet immersed along the line appear: At either pump they ply the clanking brake, [43] And, turn by turn, the ungrateful office take: Rodmond, Arion, and Palemon here At this sad task all diligent appear. As some strong citadel, begirt with foes, 470 Tries long the tide of ruin to oppose, Destruction near her spreads his black array, And death and sorrow mark his horrid way; Till, in some destined hour, against her wall In tenfold rage the fatal thunders fall: It breaks! it bursts before the cannonade! And following hosts the shatter'd domes invade: Her inmates long repel the hostile flood, And shield their sacred charge in streams of blood: So the brave mariners their pumps attend, 480 And help incessant, by rotation, lend; But all in vain! for now the sounding cord, Updrawn, an undiminish'd depth explored. Nor this severe distress is found alone, The ribs opprest by ponderous cannon groan; Deep rolling from the watery volume's height, The tortured sides seem bursting with their weight-- So reels Pelorus with convulsive throes, When in his veins the burning earthquake glows; Hoarse through his entrails roars the infernal flame, 490 And central thunders rend his groaning frame-- Accumulated mischiefs thus arise, And fate, vindictive, all their skill defies: For this, one remedy is only known, From the torn ship her metal must be thrown; Eventful task! which last distress requires, And dread of instant death alone inspires: For, while intent the yawning decks to ease, Fill'd ever and anon with rushing seas, Some fatal billow with recoiling sweep 500