The Poetical Works of Anna Seward :: :: University of Virginia Library

While springs from thy thrill'd heart the patriottear,
Thine, generous Youth, my sympathy sincere;
Beneath our transient suns and wayward skies,
As bend regretful thy reverted eyes
Far o'er the mighty Ocean of the West,
Where thy lov'd Island lifts her palmy breast,
And shoreless solitudes around her reign,
Gem of the vast, and melancholy main!

Oft, in my fancy, I behold thee trace
Each mild exemption, and each glowing grace,
That bless thy native region, as she laves

Her massy pillars in the lonely waves,
That ceaseless rave, and dash her rocky shore,
But to innoxious winds all idly roar;
Like peevish babes that from the mother's breast
Fling the wild head and scorn the offer'd rest,
Yet, in their impotence of childish rage,
Excite not anger stern, nor sad presage.
So fair Bermuda, with maternal smile,
Derides the furious seas that lash her Isle,
Since her bright Year, in youth eternal crown'd,
With flowers perennial decks the glowing ground;
Protrudes successive germs from every root,
And shews, on the same bough, the blossom and the fruit.

Whate'er with liberal hand rich Autumn throws,
Dreads nor the Winter's wind, nor chilling snows.
She to fresh Spring resigns her ripen'd pride,
And green young leaves the juicy treasure hide.
The sweet Bermuda, Nature's strife unknown,
Reclines at ease on her cerulean throne;

Feels no swart Sirius o'er her shining day
Breathe the sick gale, or dart the livid ray,
But calls the punctual breeze, to fan the hours,
That dance incessant 'mid her lemon bowers;
To sigh through yellow groves of luscious canes,
Or sweet palmettos, branching o'er the plains;
Gently, with fragrant breath, at eve to blow,
And cool the perfum'd night till morn shall glow;
Hears birds, of every hue, with lavish throat
Pour from each shade the wild, voluptuous note,
Sees Plenty bear an unexhausted horn,
And roseate Beauty deck the bursting morn.
For there no twilight veils the dewy rays,
But o'er the dusk immediate glcries blaze,
While lofty cedars rise to meet the beams,
Whose fluid gold o'er the dark foliage streams,
Back as they throw the sable shroud of night,
And give the gorgeous scene to glow in light;
Sees no dim cloud o'ershade her noon-tide bowers,
Or wet her purple eve with chilling showers;
But silent dews the closing florets feed,
Swell the young grain, and saturate the mead
While amber odours cheer the bloomy vale,
And Health's clear spirit blends with every gale.

Well may thy mind, dear Youth, incessant rove
To those luxuriant scenes of peace, and love;
Where on thy early life, energic, rose
The hope that stimulates, the bliss that glows;
Each good fraternal friendship can impart,
Or parent fondness pour upon the heart.

Yet, if resistless Destiny ordains
Thy future years to our less favour'd plains,
Amid the thicken'd sky, the howling storm,
O! may no mental blast thy peace deform!
May Science bless with richest stores thy youth,
And Wisdom guide thee to the shrine of Truth!
O'er fond Regret, Hope, Love, and Joy prevail,
Warm as Bermuda's Sun, and gentle as her Gale!

These are very tall rocks around Bermuda.

See Shakspeare's Tempest, where Ariel alludes to the high surf around this island.

“Thou call'st me at midnight, to fetch dews
“From the still vex'd Bermuda.”

The sea breezes at Bermuda come on about noon, and last till day-dawn.

In those latitudes the sun shines out instantaneously on the break of dawn.