I. A ship from Egypt, o'er the deep impell'd
By guiding winds, her course for Venice held:
Of famed Britannia were the gallant crew,
And from that isle her name the vessel drew.
The wayward steps of fortune they pursued,
And sought in certain ills imagined good:
Though caution'd oft her slippery path to shun,
Hope still with promised joys allured them on;
And, while they listen'd to her winning lore,
The softer scenes of peace could please no more. 10
Long absent they from friends and native home
The cheerless ocean were inured to roam;
Yet Heaven, in pity to severe distress,
Had crown'd each painful voyage with success;
Still, to compensate toils and hazards past,
Restored them to maternal plains at last.
Thrice had the sun, to rule the varying year,
Across the equator roll'd his naming sphere,
Since last the vessel spread her ample sail
From Albion's coast, obsequious to the gale; 20
She o'er the spacious flood, from shore to shore
Unwearying wafted her commercial store;
The richest ports of Afric she had view'd,
Thence to fair Italy her course pursued;
Had left behind Trinacria's burning isle,
And visited the margin of the Nile.