the whole fleet move forward in order of battle.--Scene, the
Grecian camp on the sea-shore of Salamis."

The first Canto thus opens--

Now darkness over all her veil had spread,
Save where the moon her feeble lustre shed,
When from the clouds emerging, her dim ray
Mock'd the effulgence of the lucid day.
Stretch'd on their beds, the Greeks in soft repose
Awhile forgot their harass'd country's woes.
Themistocles alone awake remain'd,
By his anxiety from sleep restrain'd;
Although the chief with labour was opprest,
His care for Greece withheld his wonted rest.
For three long hours, all had been still around,
At length he hears (or thinks he hears) a sound;
He starts, and sees a stately form advance,
Clad in bright arms, and with a shining lance,
And by the moon's faint beams, the chief descried
A Persian sabre glittering at his side.

Here follows the "Argument of Canto II--

"Mardonius is surprised by the noise of the Greeks advancing, and
the hostile fleet appearing, the ships move forward to meet
them.--Lycomedes takes the first galley, and consecrates the spoils
to Apollo.--The acts of Eurybiades, Mardonius, and
Themistocles.--Aristides and Lycomedes landing in the Isle of
Psyttalia, destroy a number of Persians stationed there, at sight