Now waves on waves ascending scale the skies, And in the fires above the water fries; When yellow sands are sifted from below, The glittering billows give a golden show; And when the fouler bottom spews the black, The Stygian die the tainted waters take; Then frothy white appear the flatted seas, And change their colour, changing their disease. Like various fits the Trachin vessel finds; And now sublime, she rides upon the winds; As from a lofty summit looks from high, And from the clouds beholds the nether sky; Now from the depth of hell they lift their sight, And at a distance see superior light; The lashing billows make a loud report, And beat her sides, as battering rams a fort; Or as a lion bounding in his way, With force augmented, bears against his prey, Sidelong to seize, or unappall’d with fear, Springs on the toils, and rushes on the spear; So seas impell’d by winds, with added power Assault the sides, and o’er the hatches tower.