 | Erato, number I |  |
WRECK OF THE HORNET.
The sun was low—a flood of light
Slept on the glittering ocean—
And Night's dark robes were journeying up,
With slow and solemn motion:
And ever-and-anon was heard
The sea-mew's shriek—ill-omened bird!
Slept on the glittering ocean—
And Night's dark robes were journeying up,
With slow and solemn motion:
And ever-and-anon was heard
The sea-mew's shriek—ill-omened bird!
Down sunk the sun—the gathering mist
Rose proudly up before it,
And streamed upon the lurid air,
A blood-red banner o'er it:
Frowning, and piled up heap on heap,
Dense clouds o'erspread the mighty Deep;
Darker, and pitchy black they grew—
And rolled, and wheeled, and onward flew,
Like marshaling of men.
Then trembled timid souls with fear—
Glistened in Beauty's eye the tear—
And ‘fatherland’ was doubly dear—
But brave hearts quailed not then.
Soon the rough tar's prophetic eye
Saw many a floating shroud on high,
And many a coffin drifting by—
And on the driving gale
Beheld the spirits of the Deep,
Above—around—in fury sweep—
And heard the dead's low wail,
And the Demon's muttered curse.
And on the fierce and troubled wind,
Rode Death—and, following close behind,
A dark and sombre hearse.
And soon the barque a wreck was driven,
Before the free, wild winds of heaven!
Rose proudly up before it,
And streamed upon the lurid air,
A blood-red banner o'er it:
Frowning, and piled up heap on heap,
Dense clouds o'erspread the mighty Deep;
Darker, and pitchy black they grew—
And rolled, and wheeled, and onward flew,
Like marshaling of men.
Then trembled timid souls with fear—
Glistened in Beauty's eye the tear—
And ‘fatherland’ was doubly dear—
But brave hearts quailed not then.
Soon the rough tar's prophetic eye
Saw many a floating shroud on high,
28
And on the driving gale
Beheld the spirits of the Deep,
Above—around—in fury sweep—
And heard the dead's low wail,
And the Demon's muttered curse.
And on the fierce and troubled wind,
Rode Death—and, following close behind,
A dark and sombre hearse.
And soon the barque a wreck was driven,
Before the free, wild winds of heaven!
Now shrank with fear each gallant heart—
Bended was many a knee—
And the last prayer was offered up,
God of the Deep, to Thee!
Muttered the angry heavens still,
And murmured still the sea—
And old and sterner hearts bowed down,
God of the Deep, to Thee!
And still the wreck was onward driven,
Upon the wide, wild sea—
And Man's proud soul to Fate was given,
Woman's, oh God, to Thee!
Bended was many a knee—
And the last prayer was offered up,
God of the Deep, to Thee!
Muttered the angry heavens still,
And murmured still the sea—
And old and sterner hearts bowed down,
God of the Deep, to Thee!
And still the wreck was onward driven,
Upon the wide, wild sea—
And Man's proud soul to Fate was given,
Woman's, oh God, to Thee!
Gaped wide the Deep—down plunged the wreck—
Up rose a fearful yell—
Death's wings flapped o'er that sinking deck—
A shudder!—all was still.
Up rose a fearful yell—
Death's wings flapped o'er that sinking deck—
A shudder!—all was still.
Morn came. A flood of light agen
Burst on the glittering waters,
Above the Deep's stern-hearted men,
And Earth's fair sons and daughters:
Nought of or life or death was seen—
And who could say, that strife had been!
Burst on the glittering waters,
Above the Deep's stern-hearted men,
And Earth's fair sons and daughters:
Nought of or life or death was seen—
And who could say, that strife had been!
| Erato, number I | |