Description of a Journey XI - Southampton

[Excerpt from Description of a Journey to Marlborough, Bath, Portsmouth etc.]

MY Friend and me, Southampton next receives;
Southampton, wash'd with THETIS' silver Waves:
Upon whose sandy Margin *Bevis rears
His Head, on which a stately Dome appears;
Where British SCIPIO, crown'd with Martial Bays,
In Solitude enjoys his ancient Days:
Yet, still inclin'd to conquer, wages here,
With stubborn Woods and Wilds, innoxious War;
Subdues the native Rudeness of the Soil,
And makes the barren Sand with Verdure smile;
Bends the young Plant obedient to his Will,
Or thro' the Vally leads the crystal Rill;
Sublimes the Mount, or bids the Mole subside,
To stretch the Prospect o'er the lucid Tide:
The Foils of Art illustrate his Design;
And make the Di'mond NATURE brighter shine.
CHARM'D with the Beauties of the silver Sea,
We board a Ship, and skim the watry Way:
Blown with propitious Gales, we quickly view
BRITANNIA's Strength, her Guard, and Glory too;
Where *GEORGE's dreadful Eagles waiting stood,
To bear his fatal Thunder o'er the Flood.
The wondrous Scene delights my gazing Eyes,
At once imparting Pleasure and Surprize:
Intrepid Sailers, swarming in the Sky,
Intent on Bus'ness, diff'rent Labours try:
Some stride the Yard, or tow'ring Mast ascend;
Some on the Ropes, in airy Crowds, depend;
Thick as the Insects, round the Poplar, play,
When PHOEBUS gilds 'em with a Western Ray.