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Th' eternal Empire of the Main to keep,

And guide her squadrons o'er the trembling Deep.

Her left, propitious, bore a mystic Shield,

Around whose margin rolls the watery field;

There her bold Genius in his floating car

O'er the wild Billow hurls the storm of war:
And lo! the beasts that oft with jealous rage
In bloody combat met, from age to age,
Tamed into UNION, yoked in Friendship's chain,
Draw his proud Chariot round the vanquished Main:
From the proud margin to the centre grew
Shelves, rocks, and whirlpools, hideous to the view.
Th' immortal Shield from NEPTUNE she received,
When first her head above the waters heaved;
Loose floated o'er her limbs an azure vest,
A figured scutcheon glittered on her breast;
There from one parent soil, for ever young,
The blooming Rose and hardy Thistle sprung.
Around her head an oaken wreath was seen,
Inwove with laurels of unfading green.

Such was the sculptured Prow; from van to rear
Th' Artillery frowned, a black tremendous tier!

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Embalmed with orient gum, above the wave
The swelling Sides a yellow radiance gave.
On the broad Stern, a pencil warm and bold,
That never servile rules of art controll'd,
An allegoric tale on high pourtray'd;
There a young Hero, here a royal Maid:
Fair ENGLAND'S Genius in the youth exprest,
Her ancient foe, but now her friend confest,
The warlike Nymph with fond regard surveyed;
No more his hostile frown her heart dismayed :
His look, that once shot terror from afar,
Like young ALCIDES, or the God of War,
Serene as Summer's evening skies she saw;
Serene, yet firm; though mild, impressing awe:
Her nervous arm, inured to toils severe,
Brandished th' unconquered Caledonian spear:
The dreadful falchion of the hills she wore,
Sung to the Harp in many a tale of yore,
That oft her rivers dyed with hostile gore.
Blue was her rocky Shield; her piercing eye
Flashed like the meteors of her native sky;

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Her Crest, high-plumed, was rough with many a scar,

And o'er her Helmet gleamed the northern Star.

The warrior Youth appeared of noble frame,
The hardy offspring of some Runic dame :
Loose o'er his shoulders hung the slackened bow,
Renowned in song, the terror of the foe!
The Sword that oft the barbarous North defy'd,
The scourge of tyrants! glittered by his side:
Clad in refulgent arms in battle won,
The GEORGE Emblazoned on his corselet shone;
Fast by his side was seen a golden Lyre,
Pregnant with numbers of eternal fire;
Whose strings unlock the Witches' midnight spell,
Or waft rapt Fancy through the gulphs of hell:
Struck with contagion, kindling Fancy hears
The songs of Heaven, the music of the Spheres !
Borne on Newtonian wing through air she flies,
Where other Suns to other systems rise.

These front the Scene conspicuous; overhead
ALBION'S proud oak his filial branches spread:
While on the sea-beat shore obsequious stood,
Beneath their feet, the Father of the flood:

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