Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/725

 THOMAS CAMPBELL

From its adamantine lips

Spread a death -shade round the ships,

Like the hurricane eclipse

Of the sun.

Again I again! again!

And the havoc did not slack,

Till a feeble cheer the Dane

To our cheering sent us back,

Their shots along the deep slowly boom:

Then ceased and all is wail.

As they strike the shatter'd sail,

Or in conflagration pale

Light the gloom.

Out spoke the victor then

As he hail'd them o'er the wave:

Ye are brothers ' ye are men '

And we conquer but to save.

So peace instead of death let us bring:

But yield, proud foe, thy fleet,

With the crews, at England's feet,

And make submission meet

To our King.'. ..

Now joy, old England, raise'

For the tidings of thy might,

By the festal cities' blaze,

Whilst the wine-cup shines in light!

And yet amidst that joy and uproar,

Let us think of them that sleep

Full many a fathom deep,

By thy wild and stormy steep,

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