Dura Navis

  1. 1To tempt the dangerous deep, too venturous youth,
  2. 2Why does thy breast with fondest wishes glow?
  3. 3No tender parent there thy cares shall sooth,
  4. 4No much-lov'd Friend shall share thy every woe.
  5. 5Why does thy mind with hopes delusive burn?
  6. 6Vain are thy Schemes by heated Fancy plann'd:
  7. 7Thy promis'd joy thou'lt see to Sorrow turn
  8. 8Exil'd from Bliss, and from thy native land.
  1. 9Hast thou foreseen the Storm's impending rage,
  2. 10When to the Clouds the Waves ambitious rise,
  3. 11And seem with Heaven a doubtful war to wage,
  4. 12Whilst total darkness overspreads the skies;
  5. 13Save when the lightnings darting wingéd Fate
  6. 14Quick bursting from the pitchy clouds between
  7. 15In forkéd Terror, and destructive state
  8. 16Shall shew with double gloom the horrid scene?
  1. 17Shalt thou be at this hour from danger free?
  2. 18Perhaps with fearful force some falling Wave
  3. 19Shall wash thee in the wild tempestuous Sea,
  4. 20And in some monster's belly fix thy grave;
  5. 21Or (woful hap!) against some wave-worn rock
  6. 22Which long a Terror to each Bark had stood
  7. 23Shall dash thy mangled limbs with furious shock
  8. 24And stain its craggy sides with human blood.
  1. 25Yet not the Tempest, or the Whirlwind's roar
  2. 26Equal the horrors of a Naval Fight,
  3. 27When thundering Cannons spread a sea of Gore
  4. 28And varied deaths now fire and now affright:
  5. 29The impatient shout, that longs for closer war,
  6. 30Reaches from either side the distant shores;
  7. 31Whilst frighten'd at His streams ensanguin'd far
  8. 32Loud on his troubled bed huge ocean roars.
  1. 33What dreadful scenes appear before my eyes!
  2. 34Ah! see how each with frequent slaughter red,
  3. 35Regardless of his dying fellows' cries
  4. 36O'er their fresh wounds with impious order tread!
  5. 37From the dread place does soft Compassion fly!
  6. 38The Furies fell each alter'd breast command;
  7. 39Whilst Vengeance drunk with human blood stands by
  8. 40And smiling fires each heart and arms each hand.
  1. 41Should'st thou escape the fury of that day
  2. 42A fate more cruel still, unhappy, view.
  3. 43Opposing winds may stop thy luckless way,
  4. 44And spread fell famine through the suffering crew,
  5. 45Canst thou endure th' extreme of raging Thirst
  6. 46Which soon may scorch thy throat, ah! thoughtless Youth!
  7. 47Or ravening hunger canst thou bear which erst
  8. 48On its own flesh hath fix'd the deadly tooth?
  1. 49Dubious and fluttering 'twixt hope and fear
  2. 50With trembling hands the lot I see thee draw,
  3. 51Which shall, or sentence thee a victim drear,
  4. 52To that ghaunt Plague which savage knows no law:
  5. 53Or, deep thy dagger in the friendly heart,
  6. 54Whilst each strong passion agitates thy breast,
  7. 55Though oft with Horror back I see thee start,
  8. 56Lo! Hunger drives thee to th' inhuman feast.
  1. 57These are the ills, that may the course attend--
  2. 58Then with the joys of home contented rest--
  3. 59Here, meek-eyed Peace with humble Plenty lend
  4. 60Their aid united still, to make thee blest.
  5. 61To ease each pain, and to increase each joy--
  6. 62Here mutual Love shall fix thy tender wife,
  7. 63Whose offspring shall thy youthful care employ
  8. 64And gild with brightest rays the evening of thy Life.