Hushed was by this the fiddle’s sound,
  The dancers all were gathered round,
  And, such the stillness of the house,
  You might have heard a nibbling mouse; 415
  While, borrowing helps where’er he may,
  The Sailor through the story runs
  Of ships to ships and guns to guns;
  And does his utmost to display
  The dismal conflict, and the might 420
  And terror of that marvellous [45] night! 
  “A bowl, a bowl of double measure,”
  Cries Benjamin, “a draught of length,
  To Nelson, England’s pride and treasure,
  Her bulwark and her tower of strength!” 425
  When Benjamin had seized the bowl,
  The mastiff, from beneath the waggon,
  Where he lay, watchful as a dragon,
  Rattled his chain;—­’twas all in vain,
  For Benjamin, triumphant soul! 430
  He heard the monitory growl;
  Heard—­and in opposition quaffed
  A deep, determined, desperate draught! 
  Nor did the battered Tar forget,
  Or flinch from what he deemed his debt:  435
  Then, like a hero crowned with laurel,
  Back to her place the ship he led;
  Wheeled her back in full apparel;
  And so, flag flying at mast head,
  Re-yoked her to the Ass:—­anon, 440
  Cries Benjamin, “We must be gone.” 
  Thus, after two hours’ hearty stay,
  Again behold them on their way!

CANTO THIRD

  Right gladly had the horses stirred,
  When they the wished-for greeting heard, 445
  The whip’s loud notice from the door,
  That they were free to move once more. 
  You think, those [46] doings must have bred
  In them disheartening doubts and dread;
  No, not a horse of all the eight, 450
  Although it be a moonless night,
  Fears either for himself or freight;
  For this they know (and let it hide,
  In part, the offences of their guide)
  That Benjamin, with clouded brains, 455
  Is worth the best with all their pains;
  And, if they had a prayer to make,
  The prayer would be that they may take
  With him whatever comes in course,
  The better fortune or the worse; 460
  That no one else may have business near them,
  And, drunk or sober, he may steer them.

    So, forth in dauntless mood they fare,
  And with them goes the guardian pair.

    Now, heroes, for the true commotion, 465
  The triumph of your late devotion! 
  Can aught on earth impede delight,
  Still mounting to a higher height;
  And higher still—­a greedy flight! 
  Can any low-born care pursue her, 470