4. The sun but seemed the labourer of the year; 5. Thus, mighty in her ships, stood Carthage long, 6. What peace can be, where both to one pretend? (But they more diligent, and we more strong,) Or if a peace, it soon must have an end; For they would grow too powerful, were it long. 7. Behold two nations then, engaged so far, That each seven years the fit must shake each land; Where France will side to weaken us by war, Who only can his vast designs withstand. 8. See how he feeds the Iberian ‡ with delays, * According to their opinion who think, that great heap of waters under the Line, is depressed into tides by the moon towards the poles. Dryden. + Note II. The Spaniard. § Note III. 9. Such deep designs of empire does he lay 10. This saw our king; and long within his breast 11. His generous mind the fair ideas drew Of fame and honour, which in dangers lay; Where wealth, like fruit on precipices, grew, Not to be gathered but by birds of prey, 12. The loss and gain each fatally were great; 13. He first surveyed the charge with careful eyes, * Alluding to the successful war of Cromwell against the Dutch, in 1653. 14. At length resolved to assert the watery ball, 15. It seems as every ship their sovereign knows, To see this fleet upon the ocean move, Angels drew wide the curtains of the skies; And heaven, as if there wanted lights above, For tapers made two glaring comets rise. ‡ 17. Whether they unctuous exhalations are, 18. Or one, that bright companion of the sun, § New influence from his walks of light did bring. Note IV. + Caruleus Proteus immania ponti Armenta, et magnas pascit sub gurgite phocas. ↑ Note V. The planet Venus, which was visible in the day-time about the birth-day of Charles II., was by court astronomers affirmed to be a new star. See page 51. 2 19. Victorious York did first, with famed success, 20. But since it was decreed, auspicious king, In Britain's right that thou shouldst wed the main, Heaven, as a gage, would cast some precious thing, And therefore doomed that Lawson should be slain. † 21. Lawson amongst the foremost met his fate, Whom sea-green Sirens from the rocks lament; Thus, as an offering for the Grecian state, He first was killed, who first to battle went. 22. Their chief blown up, in air, not waves, expired, To which his pride presumed to give the law; § The Dutch confessed heaven present, and retired, And all was Britain the wide ocean saw. 23. To nearest ports their shattered ships repair, Where by our dreadful cannon they lay awed; So reverently men quit the open air, Where thunder speaks the angry gods abroad. Protesilaus, the first Grecian who landed on the Trojan shore, was killed in disembarking. § Opdam, the admiral of Holland. See note VIII. 24. And now approached their fleet from India, fraught With all the riches of the rising sun; And precious sand from southern climates brought, The fatal regions where the war begun. 25. * Like hunted castors, conscious of their store, † 26. By the rich scent we found our perfumed prey, 27. Fiercer than cannon, and than rocks more hard, 28. These fight like husbands, but like lovers those; These fain would keep, and those more fain enjoy; And to such height their frantic passion grows, That what both love, both hazard to destroy. 29. Amidst whole heaps of spices lights a ball, * The war began, by mutual aggressions, on the coast of Guinea, |