"Ye, who the secret laws of Fate explore,
"Alone can tell if he returns no more ; "Or if the hour of future joy remain,
Long-wished atonement of long-suffered pain, "Bid every guardian minister attend,
"And from all ill the much-loved Youth defend. "With grief o'erwhelmed we parted twice in vain, 66 And, urged by strong attraction, met again. "At last, by cruel Fortune torn apart
"While tender passion beat in either heart, "Our eyes transfixed with agonizing look, "One sad farewell, one last embrace we took. "Forlorn of hope the lovely Maid I left, "Pensive and pale, of every joy bereft:
"She to her silent couch retired to weep, "Whilst I embarked, in sadness, on the Deep." His Tale thus closed, from sympathy of grief PALEMON's bosom felt a sweet relief;
To mutual friendship thus sincerely true,
No secret wish, or fear, their bosoms knew;
In mutual hazards oft severely tried,
Nor Hope, nor Danger, could their love divide.
Ye tender Maids! in whose pathetic souls
Compassion's sacred stream impetuous rolls,
Whose warm affections exquisitely feel
The secret wound you tremble to reveal;
Ah! may no Wanderer of the stormy main
Pour through your breasts the soft delicious bane; May never fatal tenderness approve
The fond effusions of their ardent love:
Oh! warned, avoid the Path that leads to Woe, Where thorns, and baneful weeds, alternate grow: Let them severer stoic Nymphs possess,
Whose stubborn passions feel no soft distress.
Now as the Youths returning o'er the plain Approached the lonely margin of the Main, First, with attention rouzed, ARION eyed The graceful Lover, formed in Nature's pride: IIis frame the happiest symmetry displayed, And locks of waving gold his neck arrayed; In every look the Paphian graces shine, Soft breathing o'er his cheek their bloom divine: With lightened heart he smiled serenely gay, Like young Adonis, or the son of May.
Not CYTHEREA from a fairer swain
Received her apple on the Trojan plain.
IV. The Sun's bright orb, declining all serene, Now glanced obliquely o'er the woodland scene: Creation smiles around; on every spray
The warbling birds exalt their evening lay :
Blithe skipping o'er yon hill, the fleecy train.
Join the deep chorus of the lowing plain;
The golden lime, and orange, there were seen
On fragrant branches of perpetual green;
The crystal streams that velvet meadows lave,
To the green Ocean roll with chiding wave.
The glassy Ocean hushed forgets to roar,
But trembling murmurs on the sandy shore;
And lo! his surface lovely to behold
Glows in the west, a sea of living gold!
While, all above, a thousand liveries gay
The Skies with pomp ineffable array.
Arabian sweets perfume the happy plains;
Above, beneath, around, enchantment reigns!
While glowing Vesper leads the starry train,
And Night slow draws her veil o'er Land, and Main,
Emerging clouds the azure East invade,
And wrap the lucid Spheres in gradual shade;
While yet the songsters of the vocal grove,
With dying numbers tune the soul to love:
With joyful eyes th' attentive Master sees
Th' auspicious omens of an eastern breeze.
Round the charged bowl the Sailors form a ring ;
By turns recount the wondrous tale, or sing,
As love, or battle, hardships of the Main,
Or genial wine, awake the homely strain:
Then some the Watch of Night alternate keep,
The rest lie buried in oblivious sleep.
Deep Midnight now involves the livid skies,
When eastern breezes, yet enervate, rise;
The waning Moon behind a watery shroud
Pale glimmered o'er the long protracted cloud;
A mighty Halo round her silver throne,
With parting meteors crossed, portentous shone:
This in the troubled sky full oft prevails,
Oft deemed a signal of tempestuous gales.
While young ARION sleeps, before his sight
Tumultuous swim the Visions of the Night:
Now, blooming ANNA with her happy swain
Approached the sacred Hymeneal fane;
Anon, tremendous lightnings flash between,
And funeral pomp, and weeping loves are seen:
Now with PALEMON, up a rocky Steep,
Whose summit trembles o'er the roaring Deep,
With painful step he climbed; while far above
Sweet ANNA charmed them with the voice of Love:
Then sudden from the slippery height they fell,
While dreadful yawned, beneath, the jaws of hell.—
Amid this fearful Trance, a thundering sound
He hears, and thrice the hollow decks rebound;
Upstarting from his couch on deck he sprung,
Thrice with shrill note the Boatswain's whistle rung:
All hands unmoor! proclaims a boisterous cry;
All hands unmoor! the caverned Rocks reply:
Roused from repose aloft the Sailors swarm,
And with their levers soon the Windlass arm:
The Order given, up springing with a bound,
They fix the bars, and heave the Windlass round;
At every turn the clanging pauls resound:
|