The Poetical Works of Horace Smith Now First Collected. In Two Volumes |
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THE HURRICANE AND THE MENACE. |
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| II. |
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 | The Poetical Works of Horace Smith |  |
119
THE HURRICANE AND THE MENACE.
Verdant St. Kitt's! thou art indeed a gem,
“A precious stone set in the silver sea,”
An emerald in Neptune's diadem,
An island formed in Nature's poetry;
And yet thou art unsung by son or stranger,
Save a few passing lines by Doctor Grainger.
“A precious stone set in the silver sea,”
An emerald in Neptune's diadem,
An island formed in Nature's poetry;
And yet thou art unsung by son or stranger,
Save a few passing lines by Doctor Grainger.
The vale of Tempe,—Plato's fabled isle,
Hesperian gardens, Enna's classic plain,
All, all must yield to that Arcadian smile
That thou, in thy unparagon'd domain,
Palmy St. Christopher's, the sweetest, fairest
Of earthly Paradises, ever wearest.—
Hesperian gardens, Enna's classic plain,
120
That thou, in thy unparagon'd domain,
Palmy St. Christopher's, the sweetest, fairest
Of earthly Paradises, ever wearest.—
Wild and romantic are thy breezy mountains,
Forth from whose sides, with cane plantations clad,
Leap here and there perennial rills and fountains,
Making the landscape all so green and glad,
That nymphs and sylvans through thy bowers might ramble,
And Nereids in thy glassy waters gambol.
Forth from whose sides, with cane plantations clad,
Leap here and there perennial rills and fountains,
Making the landscape all so green and glad,
That nymphs and sylvans through thy bowers might ramble,
And Nereids in thy glassy waters gambol.
Contentment with his lot I ne'er could trace
In any Negro, save a single soul,
And he, poor fellow,—which explains the case—
Was a good-humour'd, grinning, brainless droll,
Whose nickname, Silly Bingo, presupposes
That he was not a Solomon or Moses.
In any Negro, save a single soul,
And he, poor fellow,—which explains the case—
Was a good-humour'd, grinning, brainless droll,
Whose nickname, Silly Bingo, presupposes
That he was not a Solomon or Moses.
121
Bingo, whose fortune never made him grumble,
The banshaw ('tis a rude guitar) could twang,
And after work was fain to sing, dance, tumble,
As the mere butt of every Negro gang;
And yet this seeming simple-witted donkey,
In pilfering was as subtle as a monkey.
The banshaw ('tis a rude guitar) could twang,
And after work was fain to sing, dance, tumble,
As the mere butt of every Negro gang;
And yet this seeming simple-witted donkey,
In pilfering was as subtle as a monkey.
One Mr. Jackson was the overseer
Of the estate where Bingo was employ'd;
Nor could St. Christopher's produce his peer,
For he was honest to the Planter, void
Of all oppression, hated whips, loved pardons,
And had a taste for rural shades and gardens.
Of the estate where Bingo was employ'd;
Nor could St. Christopher's produce his peer,
For he was honest to the Planter, void
Of all oppression, hated whips, loved pardons,
And had a taste for rural shades and gardens.
Palm Villa, his abode, was sweetly placed
Between the sloping mountains and the ocean;
An avenue of noble palm-trees graced
Its front; while, singing to its own commotion,
A stream throughout the shady grounds meander'd,
Diffusing coolness wheresoe'er it wander'd.
Between the sloping mountains and the ocean;
An avenue of noble palm-trees graced
Its front; while, singing to its own commotion,
A stream throughout the shady grounds meander'd,
Diffusing coolness wheresoe'er it wander'd.
122
The mansion's rear was shaded by a screen
Of lofty tamarinds and cassias sweet;
On either side were fragrant gardens seen,
Where melons, sabbacas, and citrons meet,
Limes, lemons, guavas, sappadillas mellow,
The green anana, and the shaddock yellow.
Of lofty tamarinds and cassias sweet;
On either side were fragrant gardens seen,
Where melons, sabbacas, and citrons meet,
Limes, lemons, guavas, sappadillas mellow,
The green anana, and the shaddock yellow.
Hence, when refreshen'd by the moist Aurora,
Incense and balm were wafted all around,
And in all seasons, unexhausted Flora
Broider'd with richest tapestry the ground;
While the gilt humming-bird and cooing turtle
Perch'd on each hedge of acassee and myrtle.
Incense and balm were wafted all around,
And in all seasons, unexhausted Flora
Broider'd with richest tapestry the ground;
While the gilt humming-bird and cooing turtle
Perch'd on each hedge of acassee and myrtle.
Nature, however, loves to strike a balance;
And he who once has known the venom'd bite
Of fierce mosquitoes, felt the land-crab's talons,
Or found cockroaches in his bed at night,
Knows to his sorrow that the land they breed in
Is not by any means a curseless Eden.
And he who once has known the venom'd bite
Of fierce mosquitoes, felt the land-crab's talons,
Or found cockroaches in his bed at night,
Knows to his sorrow that the land they breed in
Is not by any means a curseless Eden.
123
Here in an arbour I had found a seat
Of privet with carnation shrubs entwined,
Yielding a fragrant shelter from the heat
And persecuting flies of every kind,
When divers simultaneous signs accruing,
Proved that an elemental war was brewing.
Of privet with carnation shrubs entwined,
Yielding a fragrant shelter from the heat
And persecuting flies of every kind,
When divers simultaneous signs accruing,
Proved that an elemental war was brewing.
The warn'd mosquitoes left the sunny light,
The speckled lizards to their holes withdrew,
Cockroaches crawled abroad, a loathsome sight!
And land-crabs crept from every slope in view;
While doves and pigeons, on the roofs collected,
Up to the sky their anxious looks directed.
The speckled lizards to their holes withdrew,
Cockroaches crawled abroad, a loathsome sight!
And land-crabs crept from every slope in view;
While doves and pigeons, on the roofs collected,
Up to the sky their anxious looks directed.
A suffocating heat oppress'd the air,
Still'd were the lightest feathers of the palm,
The sky was coppery, and a blood-red glare
Shot from the misty sun;—portentous calm!
When Nature's self appears to faint and sicken,
And wail her doom, aghast and horror-stricken.
Still'd were the lightest feathers of the palm,
The sky was coppery, and a blood-red glare
Shot from the misty sun;—portentous calm!
When Nature's self appears to faint and sicken,
And wail her doom, aghast and horror-stricken.
124
The fear-fraught waves came panting to the shore,
Usher'd by flocks of scared and screaming birds;
While, as they wildly eyed the clouds, a roar
Loud-bellowing burst from the bewilder'd herds;
And the mazed horse, with sudden fear transported,
Snuffing the tainted air, stood still and snorted.
Usher'd by flocks of scared and screaming birds;
While, as they wildly eyed the clouds, a roar
Loud-bellowing burst from the bewilder'd herds;
And the mazed horse, with sudden fear transported,
Snuffing the tainted air, stood still and snorted.
To covert fled the Negroes, 'mid the cry
Of wailing dogs: at which absorbing hour
Did Silly Bingo, judging none would spy
His depredations, steal upon my bower,
Thinking no doubt that he had found a famous
Season for plund'ring the contiguous yam-house.
Of wailing dogs: at which absorbing hour
Did Silly Bingo, judging none would spy
His depredations, steal upon my bower,
Thinking no doubt that he had found a famous
Season for plund'ring the contiguous yam-house.
The dog that guarded it had lately died,—
Poison'd perhaps, but that was not in proof;—
But still the Black with much misgiving eyed
The precincts, keeping carefully aloof,
Then crouching on as stealthily as Reynard,
When he is stealing to attack a hen-yard.
Poison'd perhaps, but that was not in proof;—
But still the Black with much misgiving eyed
The precincts, keeping carefully aloof,
Then crouching on as stealthily as Reynard,
When he is stealing to attack a hen-yard.
125
Reaching the place, he fill'd his bag, and back
The rogue retreated with his shoulder'd prize,
Peering with fearful joy around his track,
Showing his teeth, and rolling his large eyes,—
Just like some great baboon, who, undiscover'd,
Steals with his plunder to the nearest covert.
The rogue retreated with his shoulder'd prize,
Peering with fearful joy around his track,
Showing his teeth, and rolling his large eyes,—
Just like some great baboon, who, undiscover'd,
Steals with his plunder to the nearest covert.
The bag within a tangled brake he dropp'd,
Then back to his companions would have fled;
But suddenly, as if transfix'd, he stopp'd,
Scared by the skies so menacing and dread:
For now a low'ring hurricane impended,
That woe and horror to the isle portended.
Then back to his companions would have fled;
But suddenly, as if transfix'd, he stopp'd,
Scared by the skies so menacing and dread:
For now a low'ring hurricane impended,
That woe and horror to the isle portended.
Up from the westward heaves a mass of clouds,
Climbing successively the mountain tips,
Which rapidly the whole horizon shrouds
In lurid gloom, and fulgurous eclipse;
While the dark ridges, as they take position,
Seem batteries for the island's demolition.
Climbing successively the mountain tips,
Which rapidly the whole horizon shrouds
In lurid gloom, and fulgurous eclipse;
While the dark ridges, as they take position,
Seem batteries for the island's demolition.
126
Crash! burst the whole artillery of thunder,
Concentrating its force in one explosion,
As it would rive the rooted earth asunder,
Split the sky's vault, and overturn the ocean;
Fierce leap'd the lightning forth, as if with savage
Triumph it came, the world to blast and ravage.
Concentrating its force in one explosion,
As it would rive the rooted earth asunder,
Split the sky's vault, and overturn the ocean;
Fierce leap'd the lightning forth, as if with savage
Triumph it came, the world to blast and ravage.
The prison'd winds break loose, like Furies dire,
Rattling their chains, and roaring all amain;
Heaven's flood-gates open, water leagues with fire;
It might be thought the frantic hurricane,
As in its fangs the shrieking isle it seizes,
Would shake and tear it in ten thousand pieces.
Rattling their chains, and roaring all amain;
Heaven's flood-gates open, water leagues with fire;
It might be thought the frantic hurricane,
As in its fangs the shrieking isle it seizes,
Would shake and tear it in ten thousand pieces.
All is confusion, terror, havoc, flight—
Plantations, houses, to the ground are hurl'd,
The welkin yells with tumult and affright;
Huts, canes, and shrubs, aloft in air are twirl'd;
And cattle, madden'd with dismay and wonder,
Wildly rebellow to the roaring thunder.
Plantations, houses, to the ground are hurl'd,
The welkin yells with tumult and affright;
Huts, canes, and shrubs, aloft in air are twirl'd;
And cattle, madden'd with dismay and wonder,
Wildly rebellow to the roaring thunder.
127
The stream that lately held its gentle course,
Swoll'n to a torrent, devastates the plain,
Seizing and sweeping with resistless force,
Men, trees, and oxen to the troubled main,
Whose shores are strew'd with vessels wreck'd and broken,
Of the storm's ravages a dismal token.
Swoll'n to a torrent, devastates the plain,
Seizing and sweeping with resistless force,
Men, trees, and oxen to the troubled main,
Whose shores are strew'd with vessels wreck'd and broken,
Of the storm's ravages a dismal token.
Tost in the raging waves, mine eye explored
One lab'ring ship, whose terror-stricken crew
Had cut away her masts, and overboard
Into the yawning deep her cargo threw;
Though still the sea did but the fiercer wrestle,
To swallow up the doom'd and shatter'd vessel.
One lab'ring ship, whose terror-stricken crew
Had cut away her masts, and overboard
Into the yawning deep her cargo threw;
Though still the sea did but the fiercer wrestle,
To swallow up the doom'd and shatter'd vessel.
Meanwhile, my looks I did not long withdraw
From Silly Bingo, the purloining Black,
Whose face depictured, as he heard and saw
The dire destruction and the thunder-crack,
A rapid change and struggle of sensations,
Emblazon'd by the flashing coruscations.
From Silly Bingo, the purloining Black,
Whose face depictured, as he heard and saw
The dire destruction and the thunder-crack,
A rapid change and struggle of sensations,
Emblazon'd by the flashing coruscations.
128
Thinking at first that Jackson had let fly
This hurricane, the robber to disquiet,
He seem'd indignant, and I heard him cry—
“Gog! here's a hurly burly and a riot
About a bag o' yams, not more dan twenty!—
Why for you grumble, Massa? you got plenty.”
This hurricane, the robber to disquiet,
He seem'd indignant, and I heard him cry—
“Gog! here's a hurly burly and a riot
About a bag o' yams, not more dan twenty!—
Why for you grumble, Massa? you got plenty.”
But when the sulph'rous bolt above his head
Shatter'd the cedar-tree 'neath which he stood,
Terror possess'd him, and he humbly said,
With eyes upturn'd in supplicating mood,
“Please Massa cloud, no more make such a clatter!
Bingo gib back de yams,—dat end de matter.”
Shatter'd the cedar-tree 'neath which he stood,
Terror possess'd him, and he humbly said,
With eyes upturn'd in supplicating mood,
“Please Massa cloud, no more make such a clatter!
Bingo gib back de yams,—dat end de matter.”
Off to the brake reluctantly he stole,
The plunder'd bag upon his shoulders took,
Crept to the store-house, and replaced the whole,
Returning past me with the scowling look
Of hungry beasts, when they have been molested,
And had their booty from their clutches wrested.
The plunder'd bag upon his shoulders took,
Crept to the store-house, and replaced the whole,
Returning past me with the scowling look
Of hungry beasts, when they have been molested,
And had their booty from their clutches wrested.
129
Clenching his fist as he the house drew near,
This parting menace he pronounced aloud:
“Now you remember, Massa Oberseer,
Next time you send a great black nassy cloud,
Out of his wits to frighten Silly Bingo,
I'll throw a stone at it,—I will, by jingo!”
This parting menace he pronounced aloud:
“Now you remember, Massa Oberseer,
Next time you send a great black nassy cloud,
Out of his wits to frighten Silly Bingo,
I'll throw a stone at it,—I will, by jingo!”
| The Poetical Works of Horace Smith | |