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208
THE PEARL-DIVER.
“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant-man seeking goodly pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
—St. Matthew, XIII. 45, 46.
I sink, to snatch from its ocean-bed
The child of a world of brine;—
To pluck the pearls for a lofty head,
With billows rolled over mine!
I plunge my breast, with its vital spark,
Far under the booming tide,
To grope for gems in the fearful dark,
To kindle the eye of pride.
The child of a world of brine;—
To pluck the pearls for a lofty head,
With billows rolled over mine!
I plunge my breast, with its vital spark,
Far under the booming tide,
To grope for gems in the fearful dark,
To kindle the eye of pride.
The casket, spared, with its tender clasp,
By monsters that range the sea,
Must yield to the ruthless human grasp,
And open its lid to me.
Now, peaceful babe of the noisy deep,
Thou bidd'st thy home farewell,
Or he who dives will sleep the sleep
Of death, for thy cradle-shell!
By monsters that range the sea,
Must yield to the ruthless human grasp,
And open its lid to me.
Now, peaceful babe of the noisy deep,
Thou bidd'st thy home farewell,
Or he who dives will sleep the sleep
Of death, for thy cradle-shell!
But, O! that Pearl by a merchant bought,
When for it his all he gave,
Outvies the whole that can e'er be brought
From under the foamy wave.
Its lustre pure will outlast the sight
Of every mortal eye:
When sun and stars shall have lost their light,
'T will shine in the world on high.
When for it his all he gave,
Outvies the whole that can e'er be brought
From under the foamy wave.
Its lustre pure will outlast the sight
Of every mortal eye:
When sun and stars shall have lost their light,
'T will shine in the world on high.
209
For 't will not fret, whilst the spheres revolve,
And round it their course pursue;
It will not melt, when the heavens dissolve,
And earth, to be formed anew!
The wise, who seek, and the learned, who know
The worth of this goodly gem,—
They never will ask me thus to throw
Myself in the deep for them!
And round it their course pursue;
It will not melt, when the heavens dissolve,
And earth, to be formed anew!
The wise, who seek, and the learned, who know
The worth of this goodly gem,—
They never will ask me thus to throw
Myself in the deep for them!
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