That baffling our best vision held entangled

The silver of the half-awakened sun,

Or whether near or far, we could not tell,

Nor what: at first I thought them rocks, but ere

That error could be told, they were upon us

Bearing down swiftly athwart our course; and all

Saw ’twas a fleet of ships, not three or four

Now, but unnumber’d: like a floating city,

If such could be, with walls and battlements

Spread on the wondering water: and now the sun