Note 740 — Chapter X · THE PARLIAMENT, THE COMMONWEALTH, AND THE PROTECTORATE. THE FIRST DUTCH WAR.
Reading edition
In some dedicatory verses Neptune thus addresses the Great Commonwealth of England:—
“Go on (great State!) and make it known Thou never wilt forsake thine own, Nor from thy purpose start: But that thou wilt thy power dilate, Since Narrow Seas are found too straight For thy capacious heart. So shall thy rule, and mine, have large extent: Yet not so large, as just, and permanent.”
The work appeared when Tromp was lord of the narrow seas; the preface is dated 19th November, the day before Blake’s defeat.