-Soon is the doubt resolved. Arise, behold We stop to stir no more . . . nor will the tale be told." The pilot smote his breast; the watchman cried Long from the stern the great Adventurer gazed With awe not fear; then high his hands he raised. Who, from his birth to this eventful hour, * Hast led thy servant over land and sea, Oh still"-He spoke, and lo, the charm accurst *They may give me what name they please. I am servant of Him, &c. Hist. del Almirante, c. 2. A vain illusion! (such as mocks the eyes Of fearful men, when mountains round them risc And once again that valiant company Right onward came, ploughing the Unknown Sea. Already borne beyond the range of thought, With Light divine, with Truth immortal fraught, From world to world their steady course they keep, Swift as the winds along the waters sweep, 'Mid the mute nations of the purple deep. -And now the sound of harpy-wings they hear; Now less and less, as vanishing in fear!. And see, the heavens bow down, the waters rise, And, rising, shoot in columns to the skies, That stand-and still, when they proceed, retire, As in the Desert burned the sacred fire; Moving in silent majesty, till Night Descends, and shuts the vision from their sight. CANTO III. An Assembly of Evil Spirits. THO' changed my cloth of gold for amice gray- And tho' my world be now a narrow cell, Tho' now my head be bald, my feet be bare, And scarce my knees sustain my book of prayer, Oh I was there, one of that gallant crew, And saw-and wondered whence his Power He drew, Yet little thought, tho' by his side I stood, Of his great Foes in earth and air and flood, And the Night coming-and my Task not done!'Twas in the deep, immeasurable cave Of ANDES, echoing to the Southern wave, 'Mid pillars of Basalt, the work of fire, That, giant-like, to upper day aspire, 'Twas there that now, as wont in heaven to shine, Forms of angelic mould and grace divine Assembled. All, exiled the realms of rest, What time the song of death is in the breeze! That many an age the fusing sulphur bore, They held high council. All was silence round, When, with a voice most sweet yet most profound, A sovereign Spirit burst the gates of night, And from his wings of gold shook drops of liquid light! MERION, commissioned with his host to sweep From age to age the melancholy deep! Chief of the ZEMI, whom the Isles obeyed, 66 I. Prepare, again prepare," Thus o'er the soul the thrilling accents came, "Thrones to resign for lakes of living flame, And triumph for despair. He, on whose call afflicting thunders wait, Has willed it; and his will is fate! In vain the legions, emulous to save, Hung in the tempest o'er the troubled main; Turned each presumptuous prow that broke the wave, And dashed it on its shores again. All is fulfilled! Behold, in close array, What mighty banners stream in the bright track of day! 66 II. No voice as erst shall in the desert rise; Nor ancient, dread solemnities |