Beauties of the mind, a poetical sketch With lays, historical and romantic. By Charles Swain |
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THE VILLAGE OF SCHEVENINGEN. |
 | Beauties of the mind, a poetical sketch |  |
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THE VILLAGE OF SCHEVENINGEN.
“Still onward, onward, dark, and wide,
Engulphs the land, the furious tide.”
Croly.
Engulphs the land, the furious tide.”
Croly.
I
A startling sound by night was heardFrom the Scheveningen coast;
Like vultures in their clamorous flight,
Or the trampling of a host.
II
It broke the sleepers' heavy rest,With harsh and threat'ning cry;
Storm was upon the lonely sea!
Storm on the midnight sky!
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III
The slumberers started up from sleep,Like spectres from their graves;
Then—burst a hundred voices forth—
The waves!—the waves!—the waves!
IV
The strong-built dykes lay overthrown:And on their deadly way,
Like lions, came the mighty seas,
Impatient for their prey!
V
Like lions, came the mighty seas—Oh, vision of despair!—
'Mid ruins of their falling homes,
The blackness of the air,
VI
Fathers beheld the hast'ning doom,With stern, delirious eye;
Wildly they looked around for help,—
No help, alas! was nigh.
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VII
Mothers stood trembling with their babes,Uttering complaints—in vain—
No arm—but the Almighty arm—
Might stem that dreadful main!
VIII
Jesu! it was a fearful hour!The elemental strife,
Howling above the shrieks of death—
The struggling groans for life!
IX
No mercy—no relapse—no hope—That night—the tempest-tost
Saw their paternal homes engulphed—
Lost!—oh, for ever lost!
X
Again the blessed morning light,In the far heavens shone;
But where the pleasant village stood,
Swept the dark floods alone!
| Beauties of the mind, a poetical sketch | |