| Edmund Clarence Stedman, ed. (1833–1908). A Victorian Anthology, 1837–1895. 1895. |
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| “O Navis” |
| | | Austin Dobson (1840–1921) |
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| SHIP, to the roadstead rolled, | |
| What dost thou?—O, once more | |
| Regain the port. Behold! | |
| Thy sides are bare of oar, | |
| Thy tall mast wounded sore | 5 |
| Of Africus, and see, | |
| What shall thy spars restore!— | |
| Tempt not thy tyrant sea! | |
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| What cable now will hold | |
| When all drag out from shore! | 10 |
| What god canst thou, too bold, | |
| In time of need implore! | |
| Look! for thy sails flap o’er, | |
| Thy stiff shrouds part and flee, | |
| Fast—fast thy seams outpour,— | 15 |
| Tempt not the tyrant sea! | |
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| What though thy ribs of old | |
| The pines of Pontus bore! | |
| Not now to stern of gold | |
| Men trust, or painted prore! | 20 |
| Thou, or thou count’st it store | |
| A toy of winds to be, | |
| Shun thou the Cyclads’ roar,— | |
| Tempt not the tyrant sea! | |
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ENVOY
Ship of the State, before | 25 |
| A care, and now to me | |
| A hope in my heart’s core,— | |
| Tempt not the tyrant sea! | |
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