And our broad river will before thee seem.

With ceaseless motion comes and goes the tide,

Flowing, it fills the channel vast and wide;

Then back to sea, with strong majestic sweep

40

It rolls, in ebb yet terrible and deep;

Here sampire-banks[35] and salt-wort[36] bound the flood;

There stakes and sea-weeds, withering on the mud;

And, higher up, a ridge of all things base,

Which some strong tide has roll'd upon the place.