The In-Gathering Cimon and Pero: A Chain of Sonnets: Sebastopol etc. By John A. Heraud |
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 | The In-Gathering |  |
I.
The Ocean-waves in the Sunlight laugh;
As in the ancient time, when they
Had smiled Prometheus' woes away,
Woes suffered for Man, redeemed but half,
Which made their laughter mockery seem—
And hark ye, now, to the Sea-birds' scream!
Thus ever they scream, and flap the wing;
'Tis thus they sport, 'tis thus they sing;
A music wild, perchance uncouth,
Yet cheering to such as rejoice in youth,
Though on the ear of the old it fall,
Like a wild dirge shrieked at a funeral.
—And there are men as wild as they,
Who shout to them with voice as rude,
Amid the great seas' solitude,
And riot in their genial play—
And such a man was Ali Bey.
As in the ancient time, when they
Had smiled Prometheus' woes away,
Woes suffered for Man, redeemed but half,
Which made their laughter mockery seem—
And hark ye, now, to the Sea-birds' scream!
Thus ever they scream, and flap the wing;
'Tis thus they sport, 'tis thus they sing;
A music wild, perchance uncouth,
Yet cheering to such as rejoice in youth,
Though on the ear of the old it fall,
Like a wild dirge shrieked at a funeral.
—And there are men as wild as they,
Who shout to them with voice as rude,
Amid the great seas' solitude,
And riot in their genial play—
And such a man was Ali Bey.
By Moonlight, now, those billows float,
Around a pleasant Isle remote,
And near it lurks a Pirate boat.
And on its deck, see Ali stand,
The first in stature and command;
A Prince amid that Corsair band.
Around a pleasant Isle remote,
And near it lurks a Pirate boat.
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The first in stature and command;
A Prince amid that Corsair band.
Late at his power was struck a blow
By the old and valiant Dandolo,
Who met but to subdue his foe;
By the old and valiant Dandolo,
Who met but to subdue his foe;
Warrior more brave ne'er Venice had,
And virgin hearts in her were glad;
But the brain of Ali Bey grew mad
And virgin hearts in her were glad;
But the brain of Ali Bey grew mad
With the shame of defeat, whenever to thought
The name of old Dandolo back was brought,
And brooded on vengeance—not otherwise taught.
The name of old Dandolo back was brought,
And brooded on vengeance—not otherwise taught.
To-morrow morn the destined day
Of Vengeance brings to Ali Bey—
And this the destined spot, where he
Shall spite the Consort of the Sea,
The haughty Ocean-Cybelé,
Venice, the Mother of the Free.
Down from the sky, in the shadow of night,
Descends on the sea a sea of light,
Reflected in the waters blue;
A vision of beauty to me or to you—
But Ali Bey marked nothing of this:
No beauty e'er softened that heart of his—
The waves and the stars were things of use,
He cared not for their tones or hues;
They shone on his path and his bark they upbare;
For the rest, he rejoiced in the ocean and air,
And couched on his deck, like a beast in his lair,
Awaiting his prey, by that Islet fair,
That, on the bosom of the deep,
Lay like a Nautilus asleep.
Of Vengeance brings to Ali Bey—
And this the destined spot, where he
Shall spite the Consort of the Sea,
The haughty Ocean-Cybelé,
Venice, the Mother of the Free.
Down from the sky, in the shadow of night,
Descends on the sea a sea of light,
Reflected in the waters blue;
A vision of beauty to me or to you—
But Ali Bey marked nothing of this:
No beauty e'er softened that heart of his—
The waves and the stars were things of use,
He cared not for their tones or hues;
They shone on his path and his bark they upbare;
For the rest, he rejoiced in the ocean and air,
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Awaiting his prey, by that Islet fair,
That, on the bosom of the deep,
Lay like a Nautilus asleep.
Thus sleep thou on, till the morning dawn;
Thetide that ebbs again must flow;
And be Night's curtains closer drawn,
Around thy groves, Olivolo!
Thetide that ebbs again must flow;
And be Night's curtains closer drawn,
Around thy groves, Olivolo!
| The In-Gathering | |