Imatges de pàgina
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Who now his head fublime, aftonish'd shrouds

In the dull gloom of rain-distended clouds,

And fits enthron'd 'mid folitude and fhade

Which human eye-fight never can pervade,
Or rides amidst the howling tempeft's force
Tracing the volley'd lightning to it's fource,
Or, proudly rifing o'er the lagging wind
Leaves all the jarring Atmosphere behind,
And at his feet, while spreading clouds extend,
While thunders bellow, and while ftorms defcend,
Feels on his head the enlivening fun-beams play,
And drinks in fkies ferene the unfullied ftream of

day.

And fay ye gloomy Cynics who defpife

The manly labors of the brave and wife,
Who damp with envious breath the generous fires

Which Science kindles and which Fame inspires,

Yet

Yet Hell's remoteft regions would explore
If the rich mine allur'd with proffer'd ore.

Say can ye tell what this, yet novel art,

May to the future race of man impart,
What wonders hence may' to our fons be fhewn,
Truths now untaught, and bleffings yet unknown?

Tempted by cloudlefs fkies, yet half afraid,

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To try the bofom of the unruffled lake; Grafping with trembling hand the ill-form'd oar, And scarcely venturing from the leffening fhore, While fhouting crouds applauding rent the skies,

And weeping matrons blam'd the bold emprize : Had fome enthufiaft bofom then foretold

What wonderous fcenes the invention fhould un

fold,

That

That Ocean fway'd by this improving Att

Should join thofe coafts it's billows feem'd to part,

Bear the ftupendous Bark in fafety o'er,

And every produce waft to every shore;

Had talk'd of climes by future Navies cross'd

From scenes of Arctic to Antarctic froft,

And regions open'd to the astonish'd fight
Beyond Imagination's wildeft flight;

Such credit had he gain'd, as now would gain

The fanguine votary from the fneering train,

Whose hopes should promise from the improv'd

balloon

Planets explor'd, and Empires of the Moon.

Then while the fons of GALLIA juftly claim

The earliest trophies in this field of fame,

Shall ALBION's race with impotence of Pride

Not emulate their triumphs, but deride?

No!

No! while they candid own their Rivals here

Have started first in Glory's bright career,
Let generous ardor fire each kindred foul
To join their footsteps ere they reach the goal.
And while the Wealthy and the Great combine
United Patrons of this bold defign,

The applauding Mufe her garlands fhall bestow
To crown the intrepid Youth's fuccefsful brow,
Who first of BRITAIN'S offspring dar'd to rife
Upborne by native Genius to the fkies,

New laurels rais'd on Isis' learned plain,

And taught her ofier'd brink to rival SEINE.

VOL. I.

M

ON

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The laboring bofom of the ftormy deep,

The face of day o'erfpread by vapors scowls,

And 'mid the fhrowds the increafing tempeft howls,

O'er the tall maft the giant furges rife,

And a new Chaos mingles earth and skies;

Bold even in danger's face, the naval train

Exert their force, and try their art in vain; Despair and Death on all their efforts lower, And the loud tempeft mocks their feeble power.

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