 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
148
DESMOND and ETHELINDA.
Smooth as a mirror was the deep,
Save Zephyr, all the Winds asleep;
Their nests the gentle Halcyons build,
Their shells the merry Tritons wield,
And deep reflected mid the glassy waves,
The orient Sun his radiant mildness laves.
Save Zephyr, all the Winds asleep;
Their nests the gentle Halcyons build,
Their shells the merry Tritons wield,
And deep reflected mid the glassy waves,
The orient Sun his radiant mildness laves.
Their barge prepar'd to take the air,
Young Desmond and his new-wed Care,
Fair Ethelinda—(dear as light
Each to the other's raptur'd sight)
Launch from the vassal shore—nor since the flood
A Pair more loving—kind—in Fame's bright volume stood.
Young Desmond and his new-wed Care,
Fair Ethelinda—(dear as light
Each to the other's raptur'd sight)
Launch from the vassal shore—nor since the flood
A Pair more loving—kind—in Fame's bright volume stood.
His arm around her waist entwin'd,
His head upon her breast reclin'd,
While she in smiles, her soul confest
Of all Elysium possest;
Thron'd in their bosoms joys unclouded reign;—
But human joys, alas!—how short! how vain!
His head upon her breast reclin'd,
While she in smiles, her soul confest
Of all Elysium possest;
Thron'd in their bosoms joys unclouded reign;—
But human joys, alas!—how short! how vain!
With flutt'ring wings, fanning soft gales,
The Sylphs and Sylphids swell the sails;
Fix'd seems the barge, and from the eye,
The chalky cliffs receding fly;
All Nature in her happiest dress appears,
And Love, sweet pilot, the rich vessel steers.
The Sylphs and Sylphids swell the sails;
Fix'd seems the barge, and from the eye,
The chalky cliffs receding fly;
All Nature in her happiest dress appears,
And Love, sweet pilot, the rich vessel steers.
149
Quick shifts the scene—the Winds arise,
And Tempests low'ring veil the skies;
The Waves new-wak'd, with all their rage
'Gainst Heav'n an impious war engage,
And Fear, not for himself, but lovely Bride,
Now first made Desmond's blood in fluttering currents glide.
And Tempests low'ring veil the skies;
The Waves new-wak'd, with all their rage
'Gainst Heav'n an impious war engage,
And Fear, not for himself, but lovely Bride,
Now first made Desmond's blood in fluttering currents glide.
Eager for shore each nerve they strain
The wish'd-for blessing to regain;
His Ethelinda Desmond cheers,
And strives to soothe her curdling fears;
When Fate comes thund'ring on a mountain wave,
And the barge found'ring plunges to its grave.
The wish'd-for blessing to regain;
His Ethelinda Desmond cheers,
And strives to soothe her curdling fears;
When Fate comes thund'ring on a mountain wave,
And the barge found'ring plunges to its grave.
Their cries amid the foamy roar
Are lost—some sink, some make for shore:
Distinction now no longer known,
All thought employ'd on Self alone,
Save Desmond—he, all wildness and despair,
But for his Ethelinda knows or pain or care.
Are lost—some sink, some make for shore:
Distinction now no longer known,
All thought employ'd on Self alone,
Save Desmond—he, all wildness and despair,
But for his Ethelinda knows or pain or care.
With one arm to his manly breast,
The senseless Fair he eager prest,
And with the other nobly braves
(Calling on Heav'n) the whelming waves:
Ah, senseless waves!—a prize so rich before
Within your wide domain you never—never bore.
The senseless Fair he eager prest,
And with the other nobly braves
(Calling on Heav'n) the whelming waves:
Ah, senseless waves!—a prize so rich before
Within your wide domain you never—never bore.
Now hurry'd high on Neptune's mound,
Now bury'd in his deep profound,
Still Desmond close the Fair enfolds,
In her his All—his Life he holds:—
Midway to shore a vessel moor'd he 'spies,
And thro' the wat'ry Chaos struggling bears his prize.
Now bury'd in his deep profound,
150
In her his All—his Life he holds:—
Midway to shore a vessel moor'd he 'spies,
And thro' the wat'ry Chaos struggling bears his prize.
The goal of safety near at hand,
Endeck'd the pitying Seamen stand;
They heave the friendly rope—they cry
“One moment more, and Fate defy.”—
When, ah! the Youth quite spent, and void of breath,
Sinks—and his Ethelinda clasps in wat'ry death.
Endeck'd the pitying Seamen stand;
They heave the friendly rope—they cry
“One moment more, and Fate defy.”—
When, ah! the Youth quite spent, and void of breath,
Sinks—and his Ethelinda clasps in wat'ry death.
“Where then was Heav'n? no succour lend!
“No saving gracious arm extend!”—
Cease, impious Mortal, nor presume
Thus to arraign Almighty Doom:—
That Pow'r above, which cannot judge amiss,
Snatch'd 'em, for Earth too good, to endless Bliss.
“No saving gracious arm extend!”—
Cease, impious Mortal, nor presume
Thus to arraign Almighty Doom:—
That Pow'r above, which cannot judge amiss,
Snatch'd 'em, for Earth too good, to endless Bliss.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |