On Admiral Byng's Return from Minorca, MDCCLVI

Britons, what unaton'd offence Haunts your unprosperous race? See him you sent with honours hence Returning with disgrace. Methinks upon the vessel's side I see your prisoner stand, Cursing both winds, and bark, and tide, That bear him to the land. " This heart, he cries, these horrors show " The weakness of my cause; " Who fears to meet his country's foe " Must tremble at her laws. " Then with what face shall I appear " Before her judgment-seat? " Even now they shout around my bier, " That flames in every street. " At my approach yon paly shore " Would change its white to red, " And that high cliff come whelming o'er " On this degenerate head. " My king (I tremble at the name) " Tho' mercy guides his throne, " Must punish for his people's shame, " But scorns me for my own. " The eyes, that wept when Maclean died, " Smile at my sentence past: " Tho' by a matron-jury tried, " By their decree I'm cast. " Like Abdiel, 'midst corruption sound, " See mangled Noel stands; " Lo! Andrews shows his deadly wound; " And blood for blood demands. " See! Blakeney, with a scornful frown, " Points to the secret port; " There bids me set my succours down, " And save the wasting fort. " Blakeney, to that important pass " Too well I knew to steer, " But neither I nor they, alas! " Had hearts to venture near. " Ha! do I wake? or are my eyes " By their own fears betray'd? " See yon pale angry spectre rise, " My father's awful shade. " Shame to my blood! I shake, I swoon, " I die upon the sight: " O sink, my bark, sink instant down, " And bury me in night!" This said, he twice essay'd to leap, Twice left the vessel's side; The third time in the frowning deep He plung'd, he sunk, he died.