C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

From the Poem ‘Of the Danger His Majesty (Being Prince) Escaped in the Road at St. Andero’

WITH painted oars the youths begin to sweep

Neptune’s smooth face, and cleave the yielding deep;

Which soon becomes the seat of sudden war

Between the wind and tide, that fiercely jar.

As when a sort of lusty shepherds try

Their force at football, care of victory

Makes them salute so rudely breast to breast,

That their encounter seems too rough for jest,—

They ply their feet, and still the restless ball,

Tost to and fro, is urgèd by them all,—

So fares the doubtful barge ’twixt tide and winds,

And like effect of their contention finds.

Yet the bold Britons still securely rowed:

Charles and his virtue was their sacred load;

Than which a greater pledge Heaven could not give,

That the good boat this tempest should outlive.

But storms increase! and now no hope of grace

Among them shines, save in the prince’s face.

The pale Iberians had expired with fear,

But that their wonder did divert their care,

To see the prince with danger moved no more

Than with the pleasures of their court before:

Godlike his courage seemed, whom nor delight

Could soften, nor the face of Death affright;

Next to the power of making tempests cease,

Was in that storm to have so calm a peace.