SONNET
VIII
.
On
the
CANTOS
of
SPENSER'S
Fairy
Queen
,
lost
in
the
Passage
from
Ireland
.
WO
worth
the
man
,
who
in
ill
hour
assay'd
To
tempt
that
western
frith
with
vent'rous
keel
,
And
seek
what
heav'n
,
regardful
of
our
weal
,
Had
hid
in
fogs
,
and
night's
eternal
shade
.
Ill-starr'd
Hibernia
!
well
art
thou
repaid
For
all
the
woes
,
that
Britain
made
thee
feel
By
Henry's
wrath
,
and
Pembroke's
conquering
steel
,
Who
sack'd
thy
towns
,
and
castles
disarray'd
:
No
longer
now
with
idle
sorrow
mourn
Thy
plunder'd
wealth
,
or
liberties
restrain'd
,
Nor
deem
their
victories
thy
loss
or
shame
;
Severe
revenge
on
Britain
in
thy
turn
And
ample
spoils
thy
treach'rous
waves
obtain'd
,
Which
sunk
one
half
of
Spenser's
deathless
same
.