Ho, the hurricanes roar round a dangerous shore!Under the ledges and over the lea.

And there twinkles a light on the billows so whiteGod help our men at sea!

THE DIVER.

HENRY KENDAL.

THOU hast been where the rocks of coral grow,
Thou hast fought with eddying waves;-
Thy cheek is pale, and thy heart beats low,
Thou searcher of ocean's caves!

Thou hast looked on the gleaming wealth of old,
And wrecks where the brave have striven;
The deep is a strong and a fearful hold,

But thou its bar hast riven !

A wild and weary life is thine;
A wasting task and lone,

Though treasure-grots for thee may shine,
To all besides unknown!

A weary life!-But a swift decay
Soon, soon shall set thee free;
Thou'rt passing fast from thy toils away,
Thou wrestler with the sea!

In thy dim eye, on thy hollow cheek,
Well are the death-signs read-
Go! for the pearl in its cavern seek,
Ere hope and power be fled!
And bright in beauty's caronal
That glistening gem shall be;
A star to all in the festive hall-
But who will think on thee?

None! As it gleams from the queen-like head,
Not one 'midst throngs will say,

"A life hath been like a rain-drop shed,

For that pale quivering ray.'

'I'was for the wealth thus dearly bought !--

And are not those like thee

Who win for earth the gems of thought?

O wrestler with the Sea!

FELICIA HEMANS.

THE SAILOR-BOY.

He rose at dawn, and, fired with hope,
Shot o'er the seething harbour-bar,
And reached the ship, and caught the rope,
And whistled to the morning star.

And, while he whistled long and loud,
He heard a fierce mermaiden cry-
"O boy, though thou art young and proud,
I see the place where thou wilt lie.

"The sands and yeasty surges mix
In caves about the dreary bay;
And on thy ribs the limpet sticks,

And in thy heart the scrawl shall play."
"Fool!" he answered, "death is sure
To those that stay and those that roam;
But I will nevermore endure

To sit with empty hands at home.

"My mother clings about my neck;

My sisters crying- Stay for shame '! My father raves of death and wreck,

They are all to blame! They are all to blame !

"God help me! Save I take my part

Of danger on the roaring sea,

A devil rises in my heart

Far worse than death to me!

TENNYSON.

THE CAPTAIN.

(A Legend of the Navy.)

He that only rules by terror
Doeth grievous wrong.
Deep as Hell I count his error:

Let him hear my song.

Brave the captain was: the seamen

Made a gallant crew,

Gallant sons of English freemen,

Sailors bold and true;

H

But they hated his oppression :
Stern he was and rash,

So for every light transgression
Doomed them to the lash.
Day by day more harsh and cruel
Seemed the captain's mood:
Secret wrath, like smothered fuel,
Burnt in each man's blood.
Yet he hoped to purchase glory—
Hoped to make the name
Of his vessel great in story,
Wheresoe'er he came.

So they passed by capes and islands,
Many a harbour-mouth,
Sailing under palmy highlands

Far within the south.

On a day, when they were going
O'er the lone expanse,

In the north, her canvas flowing
Rose a ship of France.

Then the captain's colour heightened,

Joyful came his speech;

But a cloudy gladness lightened

In the eyes of each.

"Chase!" he said. The ship flew forward, And the wind did blow;

Stately, lightly went she nor'ward,

Till she neared the foe.

Then they looked at him they hated—
Had what they desired:

Mute, with folded arms, they waited,-
Not a gun was fired.

But they heard the foeman's thunder
Roaring out their doom;

All the air was torn in sunder

Crashing went the boom!

Spars were splintered; decks were shattered;

Bullets fell like rain;

Over mast and deck were scattered

Blood and brains of men !

Spars were splintered; decks were broken;

Every mother's son,

Down they dropt-no word was spoken--
Each beside his gun.

On the decks, as they were lying,
Were their faces grim;

In their blood, as they lay dying,
Did they smile on him.

Those, in whom he had reliance
For his noble name,

With one smile of still defiance

Sold him unto shame.

Shame and wrath his heart confounded;

Pale he turned, and red,

Till himself was deadly wounded—

Falling on the dead.

Dismal error !

Fearful slaughter!

Years have wandered by:

Side by side beneath the water
Crew and captain lie.

There the sunlit ocean tosses

O'er them, mouldering;

And the lonely sea-bird crosses

With one waft of wing.

TENNYSON.

"A SHIP THOU MUST NEEDS DIGHT." 1

A SHIP thou must needs dight;
Myself shall be the Master-wright.
I shall tell thee how broad and long,
Of what measure and how strong.
When the timber is fastened well,
Bend the sides over each end beam;
Bind it well with balk and band,
And wind it then with good wand.
With pitch--look it be not thin-
Plaster it well without and in.

Make it of boards, and wands between,2

Thus thriftily, and not over thin;
Look that thy seams be subtly 3 seen,

3

And nailed well, that they not twin.*

1 This curious excerpt is from Cursor Mundi, a verse history of most things down to that day early part of the thirteenth century. The other four lines are from the earlier miracle-play known as the York Deluge; they are both put into the mouth of the Almighty when directing Noah how to build the ark, and are interesting as evidence of shipbuilding in those times. 2 Laths over the seams. 3 Closed up, not easily seen. 4 Twist, or warp out of place.

SPANISH GALLEONS.

(As first seen by an Aztec.)

Guiom. As far as I could cast my eyes Upon the sea, something, methought, did rise Like bluish mists; which, still appearing more,

Took dreadful shapes, and thus mov'd towards the shore.

The objects I could first distinctly view

Were tall, straight trees, which on the water flew;
Wings on their sides instead of leaves did grow,
Which gathered all the breath the winds did blow;
And at their roots grew floating palaces,
Whose outblown bellies cut the yielding seas.

Montezuma. What divine monsters, O ye gods! are these,

That float in air, and fly upon the seas?
Came they alive, or dead, upon the shore?

Guiom. Alas, they lived too sure! I heard them

roar!

All turned their sides and to each other spoke,-
I saw their words break out in fire and smoke.
(Sure 'tis their voices thundering from on high,
And these the younger brothers from the sky.)
Deaf with the noise, I took my hasty flight;
No mortal courage could support the fright.

DRYDEN.

"HE THAT HAS SAILED UPON."1
HE that has sailed upon the dark-blue sea

Has viewed at times, I ween, a full fair sight;
When the fresh breeze is fair as breeze may be,
The white sails set, the gallant frigate tight:
Masts, spires and strand retiring to the right;

1 This extract, from "Childe Harold," is one of the very few pieces extant that describe a man-o'-war convoying a fleet of merchantmen, a condition of things that was made needful by our long wars with Spain, France and Holland.