And full of hope day followed day While that stout Ship at anchor lay The May had then made all things green; That Ship was goodly to be seen, Yet then, when called ashore, he sought To your abodes, bright daisy Flowers! He then would steal at leisure hours, And loved you glittering in your bowers, A starry multitude. But hark the word! — the Ship is From her long course returns: gone; anon Sets sail : - in season due, Once more on English earth they stand : But, when a third time from the land They parted, sorrow was at hand For Him and for his Crew. Ill-fated Vessel! -ghastly shock! At length delivered from the rock, The deep she hath regained; And through the stormy night they steer, Labouring for life, in hope and fear, Towards a safer shore - how near, Yet not to be attained! "Silence!" the brave Commander cried; -A few appear by morning light, But one dear remnant of the night- Six weeks beneath the moving sea Unforced by wind or wave To quit the Ship for which he died, (All claims of duty satisfied ;) And there they found him at her side; VOL. IV. Vain service! yet not vainly done For such a gentle Soul and sweet, That neighbourhood of grove and field The birds shall sing and ocean make A mournful murmur for his sake; And Thou, sweet Flower, shalt sleep and wake Upon his senseless grave.* * See Vol, III. p. 96, XI. "Late, late yestreen I saw the new moone Wi' the auld moone in hir arme. Ballad of Sir Patrick Spence, Percy's Reliques. ONCE I could hail (howe'er serene the sky) The dusky Shape within her arms imbound, Which some have named her Predecessor's Ghost. Young, like the Crescent that above me shone, Or was it Dian's self that seemed to move And when I learned to mark the spectral Shape Now, dazzling Stranger! when thou meet'st my glance, Emblem of thoughts too eager to advance While I salute my joys, thoughts sad or stern; So changes mortal Life with fleeting years; While Faith aspires to seats in that Domain Where joys are perfect, neither wax nor wane. |