In vain may death in various shapes invade,

The swift-wing'd arrow, the descending blade;

His naked breast their impotence defies;

The dart rebounds, the brittle fauchion flies.

Shut in himself, the war without he hears,

Safe in the tempest of their rattling spears;

The cumber'd strand their wasted volleys strow;

His sport, the rage and labour of the foe.

His pastimes like a cauldron boil the flood,

And blacken ocean with the rising mud;