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16
LEWESDON HILL.
[1]Plying her monstrous labour unrestrain'd;
A rank of castles in the rough sea sunk,
With towery shape and height, and armed heads
Uprising o'er the surge; and these between,
Unmeasurable mass of ponderous rock
Projected many a mile to rear her wall
Midst the deep waters. She, the mighty work
Still urging, in her arrogant attempt,
As with a lordly voice to the Ocean cries,
'Hitherto come, no farther; here be staid
'The raging of thy waves; within this bound
'Be all my haven:' and therewith takes in
A space of amplest circuit, wide and deep,
Won from the straiten'd main: nor less in strength
Than in dimensions; giant-like in both:
On each side flank'd with citadels and towers
And rocky walls, and arches massy proof
Against the storm of war. Compared with this,
[2]Less, and less hazardous emprize atcheived
A rank of castles in the rough sea sunk,
With towery shape and height, and armed heads
Uprising o'er the surge; and these between,
Unmeasurable mass of ponderous rock
Projected many a mile to rear her wall
Midst the deep waters. She, the mighty work
Still urging, in her arrogant attempt,
As with a lordly voice to the Ocean cries,
'Hitherto come, no farther; here be staid
'The raging of thy waves; within this bound
'Be all my haven:' and therewith takes in
A space of amplest circuit, wide and deep,
Won from the straiten'd main: nor less in strength
Than in dimensions; giant-like in both:
On each side flank'd with citadels and towers
And rocky walls, and arches massy proof
Against the storm of war. Compared with this,
[2]Less, and less hazardous emprize atcheived
- ↑ A detail of this vast project is given at the conclusion of this Poem.
- ↑ Quint. Curt. lib. 4, cap. 2, 3.
Resistless