 | Three Hundred Sonnets |  |
281
RETURN IN THE ARCTIC.
A floating palace of luxurious ease,Mirror'd and cushion'd, sumptuously built
With precious woods, polish'd and carved and gilt,
Full of the richest rare appliances
Which wealth could wish, or curious skill invent,
Body and mind to pamper and to please,
Such was our ship:—and, for the way she went,
A magic race across the slumbering seas,
As if some giant cygnet, black of breast,
But snowy-wing'd to catch the welcome breeze,
Gracefully skimm'd the waters: for the rest,
Fair woman with good-natured merriment,
And frank fraternal manhood, did their best
To make our memories of the Arctic blest!
| Three Hundred Sonnets | |