Classic Poem

Move on thou Floating Trophee built to Fame!
And bid Hir Trump spread Thy Majestick Name;
That the blew Tritons, and those petty Gods
Which sport themselves upon the dancing Floods,
May bow as to their Neptune, when they feele
The awfull pressure of thy potent Keele.
Great Wonder of the Time! whose Forme unites
In one aspect Two warring Opposites,
Delight and Horrour; and in them portends
Diff'ring events both to thy Foes and Friends.
To These thy Radiant brow, Peace's bright Shrine,
Doth like that Golden Constellation shine
Which guides the Seaman with auspitious Beames
Safe and unshipp-wrack't through the troubled Streames.
But, as a Blazing Meteor, to Those
It doth ostents of bloud and death disclose.
For thy Rich Decks Lighten, like Heaven's fires
To usher forth the Thunder of thy Tires.
O never may crosse Wind or swelling Wave
Conspire to make the treach'rous Sandes thy Grave:
Nor envious Rocks in their white foamy laugh
Rejoice to weare thy Losse's Epitaph.
But may the smoothest, most successfull Gales
Distend thy Sheat, and wing thy flying Sailes:
That all Designes which must on Thee embarke
May be securely plac't, as in the Arke.
Mayst Thou, where're thy Streamers shall display,
Enforce the bold Disputers to obay:
That They, whose Pens are sharper then their Swordes,
May yeeld in Fact, what they Deny'd in Wordes.
Thus when th'amazed World Our Seas shall see
Shut from Usurpers, to Their Owne Lord Free,
Thou may'st, returning from the conquer'd Maine,
With thine owne Triumphes be crown'd Soveraigne.