He says of Diana: 

  And, as confronted on her way she pressed,
  So beautiful her form and bearing were,
  That everything that saw her love confessed,
  The stars, the heaven, and the surrounding air.

The Indus and Ganges are personified in stanza xiv. 74, the Cape in v. 50.

His time references are mostly mixed up with ancient mythology: 

  As soon, however, as the enamelled morn
  O’er the calm heaven her lovely looks outspread,
  Opening to bright Hyperion, new-born,
  Her purple portals as he raised his head,
  Then the whole fleet their ships with flags adorn.

and: 

  So soon, however, as great Sol has spread
  His rays o’er earth, whom instantly to meet,
  Her purple brow Aurora rising shews,
  And rudely life around the horizon throws.

He is at his best in writing of the sea.

He says of the explorers on first setting sail: 

  Now were they sailing o’er wide ocean bright,
  The restless waves dividing as they flew;
  The winds were breathing prosperous and light,
  The vessels’ hollow sails were filled to view;
  The seas were covered o’er with foaming white
  Where the advancing prows were cutting through
  The consecrated waters of the deep.... 
  Thus went we forth these unknown seas to explore,
  Which by no people yet explored had been;
  Seeing new isles and climes which long before
  Great Henry, first discoverer, had seen.

  Now did the moon in purest lustre rise
  On Neptune’s silvery waves her beams to pour,
  With stars attendant glittered all the skies,
  E’en like a meadow daisy-spangled o’er;
  The fury of the winds all peaceful lies
  In the dark caverns close along the shore,
  But still the night-watch constant vigils keep,
  As long had been their custom on the deep.

  To tell thee of the dangers of the sea
  At length, which human understanding scare,
  Thunder-storms, sudden, dreadful in degree,
  Lightnings, which seem to set on fire the air,
  Dark floods of rain, nights of obscurity,
  Rollings of thunder which the world would tear,
  Were not less labour than a great mistake,
  E’en if I had an iron voice to speak.

He describes the electric fires of St Elmo and the gradual development of the waterspout: 

  I saw, and clearly saw, the living light
  Which sailors everywhere as sacred hold
  In time of storm and crossing winds that fight,
  Of tempest dark and desperation cold;
  Nor less it was to all a marvel quite,
  And matter surely to alarm the bold,
  To observe the sea-clouds, with a tube immense,
  Suck water up from Ocean’s deep expanse.... 
  A fume or vapour thin and subtle rose,
  And by the wind begin revolving there;
  Thence to the topmost clouds a tube it throws,
  But of a substance so exceeding rare.... 
  But when it was quite gorged it then withdrew
  The foot that on the sea beneath had grown,
  And o’er the heavens in fine it raining flew,
  The jacent waters watering with its own.