 | Wood-notes and Church-bells |  |
THE FLAMBOROUGH PILOTS.
The lights revolve, now white, now red,
In vain—no warning ray is shed
From mist-enfolded Flamborough Head.
In vain—no warning ray is shed
From mist-enfolded Flamborough Head.
In vain the gun booms on the shore—
No warning sound is wafted o'er
The waves that to the darkness roar.
No warning sound is wafted o'er
The waves that to the darkness roar.
To straining eye and listening ear,
In heaven or earth no signs appear,
Whereby bewildered bark may steer.
In heaven or earth no signs appear,
Whereby bewildered bark may steer.
But suddenly a voice is heard,
The wailing note of wild sea-bird,
And all the sailor's heart is stirred.
The wailing note of wild sea-bird,
And all the sailor's heart is stirred.
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“The Flamborough Pilots!” is his cry,
Beware—beware—the rocks are nigh,
Turn the ship's head, and seaward fly.
Beware—beware—the rocks are nigh,
Turn the ship's head, and seaward fly.
Blest birds—kind white-winged pilots—hark
Like angels call they through the dark,
Like angels save that helpless bark.
Like angels call they through the dark,
Like angels save that helpless bark.
'Tis morn—the mists are rolled away—
The beacon lights are quenched in day—
And boats come stealing round the bay.
The beacon lights are quenched in day—
And boats come stealing round the bay.
The rocks with deadly echoes ring
From rifles that destruction bring
To angel-voice and angel-wing.
From rifles that destruction bring
To angel-voice and angel-wing.
Oh, cruel sound! Oh, piteous sight!
The gentle pilots of the night
Are murdered with the morning light.
The gentle pilots of the night
Are murdered with the morning light.
And lo! for lack of warning call
Ships lost beneath that white sea-wall,
Where now the “Flamborough Pilots” fall!
Ships lost beneath that white sea-wall,
Where now the “Flamborough Pilots” fall!
| Wood-notes and Church-bells | |