Page:The Village - Crabbe (1783).djvu/15

 Which to their coast directs its vent'rous way, Theirs, or the ocean's miserable prey.

As on their neighbouring beach yon swallows stand, And wait for favouring winds to leave the land; While still for flight the ready wing is spread: So waited I the favouring hour, and fled; Fled from these shores where guilt and famine reign, And cry'd, Ah! hapless they who still remain; Who still remain to hear the ocean roar, Whose greedy waves devour the lessening shore; Till some fierce tide, with more imperious sway, Sweeps the low hut and all it holds away; When the sad tenant weeps from door to door, And begs a poor protection from the poor.

But these are scenes where Nature's niggard hand Gave a spare portion to the famish'd land; Rh