173. A Hymn in Praise of Neptune

OF Neptune’s empire let us sing,
At whose command the waves obey;
To whom the rivers tribute pay,
Down the high mountains sliding:
To whom the scaly nation yields	5
Homage for the crystal fields
Wherein they dwell:
And every sea-dog pays a gem
Yearly out of his wat’ry cell
To deck great Neptune’s diadem.	10

The Tritons dancing in a ring
Before his palace gates do make
The water with their echoes quake,
Like the great thunder sounding:
The sea-nymphs chant their accents shrill,	15
And the sirens, taught to kill
With their sweet voice,
Make ev’ry echoing rock reply
Unto their gentle murmuring noise
The praise of Neptune’s empery.	20