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The sea with melancholy war Moateth about our castled shore; His world-wide elemental moan Girdeth our lives with tragic zone.

He, ere men dared his watery path, Fenced them aloof in wrath; Their jealous brotherhoods Sund'ring with bitter floods: Till science grew and skill, And their adventurous will Challenged his boundaries, and went free To know the round world, and the sea From midday night to midnight sun Binding all nations into one.

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Yet shall his storm and mastering wave Assure the empire to the brave; And to his billowy bass belongs The music of our patriot songs, When to the wind his ridges go In furious following, careering a-row, Lasht with hail and withering snow: And ever undaunted hearts outride His rushing waters wide.

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But when the winds fatigued or fled Have left the drooping barks unsped, And nothing stirs his idle plain Save fire-breathed ships with silvery train, While lovingly his waves he layeth, And his slow heart in passion swells To the pale moon in heav'n that strayeth, And all his mighty music deep Whispers among the heapèd shells, Or in dark caverns lies asleep;-- Then dreams of Peace invite, Haunting our shore with kisses light: Nay--even Love's Paphian Queen hath come Out of her long retirèd home To show again her beauty bright; And twice or thrice in sight hath play'd Of a young lover unaffray'd, And all his verse immortal made.