BOOK I.
The poem commences, in form, with a solemn proposition of the subject.
Then the muse is invoked to give the poet accurate information as to the causes of so terrible a commotion.

The answer to this question, being, it is to be supposed, the joint production of the poet and the muse, ascribes the event to circumstances which have hitherto eluded all the research of political writers, namely, the influence of the god Mars, who, we are told, had some forty years before usurped the conjugal rights of old Carlo Buonaparte, and given birth to Napoleon.

By his incitement it was that the emperor with his devoted companions was now on the sea, returning to his ancient dominions.

The gods were at present, fortunately for the adventurer, feasting with the Ethiopians, whose entertainments, according to the ancient custom described by Homer, they annually attended, with the same sort of condescending gluttony which now carries the cabinet to Guildhall on the 9th of November.

Neptune was, in consequence, absent, and unable to prevent the enemy of his favourite island from crossing his element.