Like its foundation stretched from day to day
While grew the timber once so gayly spread
That foilaged covering of their stately heads
By rapid Rhone Precipitous and bare
Stood like a tower in the nether air
Bared by the tempest or the rage of war
That marked thy beaties [i.e. ‘beauties’] with an iron scar
Down fell thy leafy honors to the main
And more art cherishd in the Muses strain
From rugged Norway waves worn coast
The fir the glory and [‘of’ overwritten] the Baltics boast
And harshly sounding to the workman stroke
Rings firmly subborn [i.e. ‘stubborn’] British Oak
Squared ready beams and winter [Lindsay: timber] lies
And only wait the great designers eyes
The eager workmen for this great design
Tumultous ... [sic; ellipsis followed by blank space] to chalk the line
That must delimit [Lindsay: determine] all, whose mark
With that of old, was told in Noah’ ark
Made out its length and [two words smudged or partly deleted: ‘?width breath’]
Made out its utmost breadth and length
On which the workman must exert his strength
Or in vain trifles but his ardent mind
Clar copious interlects = defined
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