University of Virginia Library


114

THE SEA.

Oceanus in Latin is the ocean's name;
And mare means the sea, that ever ebbs and flows:
And pelăgus and fretum also mean the same;
And ventus means the wind, that o'er the ocean blows.
And nubes are the clouds, and cælum is the sky;
Arēna is the sand, and littus is the shore:
And alga's the sea-weed, which on the shore doth lie;
And mergus is the cormorant, which o'er the sea doth soar.
And specus and spelunca both are names for cave;
And nymphæ are the nymphs who live beneath the main;
And water is called aqua, and unda is a wave,
And sal's the name for salt, which ocean doth contain.
Corălum is coral, and concha is a shell,
And spuma is the froth that floats upon the wave;
And saxum means a rock—I'd have you mark it well:
And portus means the harbour, which weary sailors crave

115

The name for fish in Latin is piscis, I declare,
And salmo is the salmon, that doth to sea repair;
And delphin is a dolphin, so frolicsome and fair;
Balæna is a whale, a monster strong and bold;
And ardea's a heron, which loves a fish to eat;
And halcyon's the kingfisher, which on the coast you meet;
And ostrea's an oyster, which many think a treat;
And specula's a beacon, which mariners behold.