Malvern Hills with Minor Poems, and Essays. By Joseph Cottle. Fourth Edition |
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SONG OF THE OCEAN. |
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 | Malvern Hills |  |
SONG OF THE OCEAN.
I.
BENEATH this crag, that, huge and high,Forms a proud rampart to the tide;
Serene, I mark the evening sky,
And sky-encircled waters wide.
The heavens, in all their pomp, recline,
Now, on the bosom of the sea,
And Nature wears the form divine
Of beauty in its sanctity.
While viewing thus the flood of fire,
Unearthly dreams my soul inspire;
I drink strange life, and, in amaze,
Round, with delirious rapture, gaze,
Till, rising, soaring, borne away—
I spurn this manacle of clay.
What crowds of every hue, and dye,
Now upon the waters lie!—
Amid the glow of radiance round,
A lordly line of light is found:
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In their hour of pastime, dance
O'er their sleeping parents' breast,
Too light to break their peaceful rest.
Again as I look, it seems to be
A column of fire, that rises high,
From the fathomless depths of sea—
Faith-like, pointing to the sky!
O path of loveliness! O fair highway!
Through which, methinks, celestial beings run,
When they, in earnestness, and bright array,
Would overtake the fast-declining sun.
II.
Descending from the airy car,Now, other objects fill my sight;
I view the first faint trembling star,
Leading on the train of night.
To charm the eye, to soothe the ear,
New sounds are heard; new forms appear.
To this inhospitable shore—
Whose dark-brow'd caverns ceaseless roar
To the stately trees on high,
Waving endless melody;
Whilst the billows at their feet,
Still the answering note repeat:
To this shore, the waves are bound,
(With foam, or floating sea-weeds, crown'd,)
Through the night, and through the day,
In an undisturb'd array:
Far as the aching eye can trace,
On they come, with solemn pace;
Wanderers wild from sea to sea,
Strangers to tranquillity.
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To seek, but never find, a home.
Here, with earnest course they throng,
And bear their buoyant spoils along,
Where, having cast them, with disdain,
Again they plunge into the main,
Till they rise, with vigour new,
And their ancient course pursue.
III.
Upon the utmost verge of ocean,A homeward-destined bark appears;
Though sailing fast—so slow its motion—
It emblems life's departing years!
What transport in yon vessel dwells!
While gazing on his native shore,
The seaman's ardent bosom swells
With happiness unknown before.—
Exultant, still, he lifts his hand;
Still bids the friendly gale arise;
And bear him swifter to the land
Which he has ever call'd the pride
Of earth, in her dominion wide,
But which, by absence taught, he now doth idolize!
Whilst the strain'd canvass courts the breeze,
His bosom labours with delight,
And pleasures dance before his sight,
As the long line of purple coast he sees:
Though sailing o'er the ocean green,
With many a rolling surge between;
Disdaining space, he sees! he hears!
No shape of fancy it appears!
He presses to his heart, the maid,
Who, bashful, to salute her lover flies!
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Where his low cot of comfort lies!
The faithful wife, with triumph proud,
The hearty welcome pours aloud,
Whilst his young children clasp his knee,
And weep and smile, and smile and weep,
That from the dangers of the deep,
Their long lost sire they see!
IV.
Orb of glory! to the west,Thou speedest fast thy stately form;
In robes of pearl, and sapphire, drest,
Whilst, starting from their bed of rest,
Th' imperious winds arouse the slumbering storm:
Yet, as Night erects her throne,
In one dark corner of the sky,
And voices, with portentous moan,
Sound on the gale that sweeps impetuous by;
O'er the vex'd and boundless tide,
Far-scatter'd sun-beams still delight to play,
And the fair departing day,
In silent grandeur, sends its lustre wide.
Earthly pageants! veil your head!
Here, behold, mid floods of light,
Heaven his gorgeous vesture spread!
Streaming fire, and liquid gold,
That, as they change beneath the sight,
New, and nobler forms unfold.
V.
Ah! what a change is here!Fill'd with terror and amaze,
The scene grows darker as I gaze,
The vengeance of the deep is near!
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The sun hath left the western sky;
And, sailing on the stormy blast,
The venturous sea-birds, hurrying, homeward fly.
The waves, that late disporting play'd,
Are now in ten-fold wrath array'd,
Darting quick flashes from their thousand eyes;
With anger, heighten'd by the Wind,
Which fain their giant limbs would bind,
When, to fierce strife, the Heavens and Ocean rise!
Lo! sounding their defiance far,
The ancient rivals rush to war!
Each, with fearful strength attired!
Each, with maddening fury fired!—
Dreadful, in unavailing ire,
Th' indignant Winds awhile retire!
Whilst the proud victor gazes round
For some new foe, on whom to pour his rage!
That other foe he now hath found!
See the combatants engage!
Ocean, collecting all his might,
With Earth proclaims a baneful fight,
And with inebriate reel, assaults the shore!
Earth, that many a shock hath stood
From wrathful sky and stormy flood,
Smiles in her granite strength, and braves his deafening roar!
VI.
No friendly moon, no stars appear!From dreams of death, roused by the stormy tide,
The demons of the tempest ride
Triumphant, through the dark and troubled air;
Or, hand in hand,
A ghastly band,
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With their songs of ecstasy
Pace the ocean-beaten strand.
To swell the horrors of the night,
Lightnings flash their forked light,
Quenching their fervour in the boisterous main!
Again! again!
And, what a sound,
Bursts in lengthen'd peal around!
Though fears, that spring from Nature, move my soul,
Terrific pleasures on that voice await!
Ye unseen powers, prolong the strain sublime,
Allied to neither earth nor time,
Which raise within me, as through heaven they roll,
The thought, in shadows dress'd, unutterably great!
When the elements conspire
To sweep their deep and awful lyre,
The rattling thunders, as they fly,
Complete the dreadful harmony!
VII.
Pity! whither art thou fled?Hast thou left this stormy scene
For rivers smooth, and meadows green,
Where Peace reclines upon her roseate bed?
From thy haunt, wheree'er it be,
Darling child of sympathy!
Haste! th' afflicted heart to cheer!
Lo! a moving sight is here!
In this shuddering hour of need,
On thy swiftest pinion speed!
The bark, that long hath borne the beating wave,
And now beholds her haven near,
Trembles o'er the yawning grave!
Fly to succour! fly to save!
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Thou oft art call'd, though call'd in vain!
Whilst “Help!” faint heard, that doleful sound!
Floats on the darken'd air, till with the tempest drown'd!
VIII.
The storm increases! by the lightOf heaven's fierce splendours, I behold
The mariners, late brave and bold,
Chain'd, steadfast, to the deck, in wild affright.
Through distraction's starting tear,
They view their wives and children dear,
Whom they had fondly hoped, ere long, to greet
With all a husband's, all a father's joy,
And feel domestic comforts sweet,
The end of all their toil, without alloy;
But now, (while those they love rejoice
In the bless'd interview at hand,
And every heart, and every voice,
Already hails them to their native land,)
They mark th' unruly sails disdain
The weak control of mortal rein;
Dissever'd, on the winds they ride,
Rent by ocean in his pride!
Whilst languid hope points to one glimmering star,
Forebodings dread, disclose their wretched state,
They view the sails, plung'd in the wave afar,
And read their own inevitable fate!
The lightnings, as they flash, display
The rocky shore, to which they onward drive!
In vain with destiny they strive,
Whilst ocean, bellowing loud, demands his prey.
Now swifter borne before the hurrying blast,
(Their last brave anchor vainly cast!)
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Roaring o'er the rocky strand!
To the near cliffs their course they urge,
In dark funereal terrors drest!—
Ere long, and in the wrathful surge,
Each palpitating heart shall rest!
Still nearer, now, the vessel draws!
Fear suspends their labouring breath!
A horrid pause!
One moment more!
The strife is o'er!
Heard you that shriek? It was the shriek of Death!
| Malvern Hills | |