Page:Poems of Anne Countess of Winchilsea 1903.djvu/399

COUNTESS OF WINCHILSEA 261 �Or knows an Art, when it each moment veers, To vary with the Winds, or stem th'unusual Tide. Dispers'd and loose, the shatter'd Vessels stray, �Some perish within sight of Shore, Some, happier thought, obtain a wider Sea, But never to return, or cast an Anchor more ! 270 �Some on the Northern Coasts are thrown, And by congealing Surges compass' d round, To fixt and certain Ruin bound, �Immoveable are grown: The fatal Goodwin swallows All that come Within the Limits of that dangerous Sand, Amphibious in its kind, nor Sea nor Land; Yet kin to both, a false and faithless Strand, Known only to our Cost for a devouring Tomb. �Nor seemed the HUBBICANE content, 280 �Whilst only Ships were wreckt, and Tackle rent ; �The Sailors too must fall a Prey, Those that Command, with those that did Obey ; The best Supporters of thy pompous Stile, Thou far Renown' d, thou pow'rful BRITISH Isle! Foremost in Naval Strength, and Sov'reign of the Sea! These from thy Aid that wrathful Night divides, Plung'd in those Waves, o'er which this Title rides. What art Thou, envy'd Greatness, at the best, �In thy deluding Splendors drest? 290 �What are thy glorious Titles, and thy Forms ? Which cannot give Security, or Rest To favour' d Men, or Kingdoms that contest With Popular Assaults, or Providential Storms! �Whilst on th'Omnipotent our Fate depends, And They are only safe, whom He alone defends. Then let to Heaven our general Praise be sent, Which did our farther Loss, our total Wreck prevent. ��� �