J.M.W. Turner: Sketchbooks, Drawings and Watercolours

Birth or nature steers the doubtful [light inserted]
That round him broke harsh effrontery
That [?watchful Prophecy] has try[d] in vain to tell
The mighty mother conscience catch
Then terror and dismay o[’r]e Southern [ether inserted] burst
Presagefull of thy fate for fatal word
From frozen nostril hast unfurld
Rold the full summons th[r]o the central world
Th[r]o [?Eastward] icebound ribs the sun hurld
The coral cavern of the main resound
In repercussive roar the frost bound ocean sounds
In the dark conclave rush the high compeer
Lo Britains bark too daring hither steers
Did I for this withhold your sway
That sweeps or ... thy billow rise way
Check thy
Allows the Sun to gleam o[e]r G[reenland’s] bay