LXXXIX. And o'er him bent his sire, and never raised And when the wished-for shower at length was come, XC. The boy expired—the father held the clay, And look'd upon it long; and when at last Death left no doubt, and the dead burthen lay Stiff on his heart, and pulse and hope were past, He watch'd it wistfully, until away 'Twas borne by the rude wave wherein 'twas cast; Then he himself sunk down all dumb and shivering, And gave no sign of life, save his limbs quivering. XCI. Now overhead a rainbow, bursting through The scattering clouds, shone, spanning the dark sea, Resting its bright base on the quivering blue, And all within its arch appear'd to be Clearer than that without, and its wide hue Wax'd broad and waving like a banner free, Then changed like to a bow that's bent, and then Forsook the dim eyes of these shipwreck'd men. XCII. It changed, of course; a heavenly chameleon, Glittering like crescents o'er a Turk's pavilion, Just like a black eye in a recent scuffle (For sometimes we must box without the muffle). XCIII. Our shipwreck'd seamen thought it a good omen— 'Twas an old custom of the Greek and Roman, XCIV. About this time a beautiful white bird, Web-footed, not unlike a dove in size Upon its course), pass'd oft before their eyes, XCV. But in this case I also must remark, 'Twas well this bird of promise did not perch, Because the tackle of our shatter'd bark Was not so safe for roosting as a church; And had it been the dove from Noah's ark, Returning there from her successful search, Which in their way that moment chanced to fall, They would have eat her, olive-branch and all. XCVI. With twilight it again came on to blow, But not with violence; the stars shone out, The boat made way; yet now they were so low They knew not where nor what they were about: Some fancied they saw land, and some said "No!" The frequent fog-banks gave them cause to doubtSome swore that they heard breakers, others guns, And all mistook about the latter once. XCVII. As morning broke, the light wind died away, He wish'd that land he never might see more; Or thought they saw, and shaped their course for shore; For shore it was, and gradually grew Distinct and high, and palpable to view. XCVIII. And then of these some part burst into tears, XCIX. The day before, fast sleeping on the water, Proved even still a more nutritious matter, C. The land appear'd a high and rocky coast, To what part of the earth they had been tost, So changeable had been the winds that blew : Some thought it was Mount Ætna, some the highlands Of Candia, Cyprus, Rhodes, or other islands. CI. Meantime the current, with a rising gale, Still set them onwards to the welcome shore, Like Charon's bark of spectres, dull and pale; Their living freight was now reduced to four, And three dead, whom their strength could not avail To heave into the deep with those before, Though the two sharks still follow'd them, and dash'd The spray into their faces as they splash'd. CII. Famine, despair, cold, thirst, and heat, had done Amidst the skeletons of that gaunt crew: CIII. As they drew nigh the land, which now was seen They felt the freshness of its growing green, That waved in forest tops, and smooth'd the air, And fell upon their glazed eyes like a screen From glistening waves, and skies so hot and bareLovely seem'd any object that should sweep Away the vast, salt, dread, eternal deep. CIV. The shore look'd wild, without a trace of man, Were mad for land, and thus their course they ran, To show its boiling surf and bounding spray; CV. But in his native stream, the Guadalquivir, CVI. So here, though faint, emaciated, and stark, |