Which thus may soon the foundering hull devour.
’Tis true, the vessel and her costly freight,
To me consigned, my orders only wait;
Yet, since, the charge of every life is mine,
To equal votes our counsels I resign—
Forbid it, Heaven! that in this dreadful hour
I claim the dangerous reins of purblind power!
But should we now resolve to bear away,
Our hopeless state can suffer no delay:
Nor can we, thus bereft of every sail,