With the heart's welcome ere the tongue could half
Perform its office-feeling's telegraph!
Impassioned smiles, and tears of rapture starting-
Oh, how unlike the tears which fell at parting!
And all were their's-that good ship's gallant crew-
As though each joy which absence rendered due
Were paid in one bright moment: such are known
To those long severed, loving, loved, alone!
A gorgeous freight that broad-sailed vessel bore-
The blazing diamonds and the blushing ore;
Spices that sighed their incense, till the sails
Were fanned along on aromatic gales
From Orient lands. Then marvel not if he
Who there is Chief should look exultingly
Back on the storms he baffled, and should know
The bosom's warmest wildest overflow
While gazing on the land which laughed before him—
The smooth sea round-the blue pavilion o'er him!
Yet felt he more than ever sprang from these,
For love demanded deeper sympathies;
And long in lonely bower had sighed for him
A fond fair Bride, whose infant Cherubim
Oft spirit-clouded from its playthings crept,
beside its mother while she wept.
But O, they met at length! And such sweet days
Already proved as leave a light that plays
Upon the memory when their warmth is gone
The fount thus treasures sun-beams, and shines on Through dusk and darkness. Like some happy mother, Joy marked the hours pursuing one another—
A wreath of buoyant angels! Yet as they
Wheeled laughing round, oft sighed—to make them stay!
This was a day of banqueting on board;
And swan-winged barks, and barges many-oared
Came crowded to the feast.
The beautiful-were there.
The pleasure boats glide onward;-with swift prow
The clear wave curling, till around each bow,
With frequent flash, the bright and feathery spray
Threw mimic rainbows at the sun in play.
The ship is won, the silken chair is lowered-
Exulting Youth and Beauty bound on board;
And, while they wondering gaze on sail and shroud,
The flag flaps o'er them like a crimson cloud.
Young Pleasure kissed each heart! From Persia's loom An ample awning spread its purple bloom
To canopy the guests; and vases, wreathed
With deep-hued flowers and foliage, sweetly breathed
Their incense, fresh as zephyrs when they rove
Among the blossoms of a citron grove;
Soft sounds (invisible spirits on the wing)—
Were heard and felt around them hovering;-
In short, some magic seemed to sway the hour,
The wand-struck deck becomes an orient bower!
A very wilderness of blushing roses,
Just such as Love would chuse when he reposes.
The pendant orange from a lush of leaves,
Hangs like Hesperian gold; and, tied in sheaves,
Carnations prop their triple coronals;
The grape, out-peeping from thick foliage, falls
Like clustered amethysts in deep festoons;
And shells are scattered round which Indian moons
Had sheeted with the silver of their beams;
But O, what, more than all, the scene beseems,
Fair, faultless forms, glide there with wing-like motion !— Bright as young Peris rising from the ocean!
Eve darkened down-and yet they were not gone;
The sky had changed, the sudden storm came on!
ONE waved on high a ruby sparkling bowl-
(Youth, passion, wine, ran riot in his soul)-
"Fill to the brim," he cried, "let others peer
Their doubtful path to heaven ;-my heaven is here!
This hour is mine, and who can dash its bliss?
Fate dare not darken such an hour as this!"
Then stooped to quaff';—but (as a charm were thrown) His hand, his lips, grew motionless as stone;
The drunkness of his heart no more deceives
The thunder growls, the surge-smote vessel heaves;
And while aghast he stared, a hurrying squall
Rent the wide awning, and discovered all!
Across their eyes the hissing lightning blazed-
The black wave burst beside them as they gazed;
And dizzily the thick surf scattered o'er them;
And dim and distant loomed the land before them;
No longer firm-the eternal hills did leave
Their solid rest, and heaved, or seemed to heave.
O, 'twas an awful moment !—for the crew
Had rashly, deeply drank, while yet they knew
No ruling eye was on them-and became
Wild as the tempest! Peril could not tame-
Nay, stirred their brutal hearts to more excess;
Round the deserted banquet-board they press,
Like men transformed to fiends, with oath and yell!
And many deemed the sea less terrible
Than maniacs fiercely ripe for all, or aught,
That ever flashed upon a desperate thought!
Strange laughter mingled with the shriek and groan-
Nor woman shrank, nor woman wept alone.
Some, as a bolt had smote them, fell;-and some
Stared haggard wild :-dismay had struck them dumb.
There were of firmer nerve, or fiercer cast,
Who scowled defiance back upon the blast-
Half scorning in their haughty souls to be
Thus pent and buffetted. And tenderly,
Even then, to manly hearts fair forms were drawn,
Whose virgin eyes had never shed their dawn
Before soft, beautifully shy-to flush
A lover's hope; but as the dove will rush
Into the school-boy's bosom to elude
The swooping goshawk-woman thus subdued,
Will cling to those she shunned in lighter mood-
The soul confess emotions but concealed
Pure, glowing, deep, though lingeringly revealed;
That true camelion which imbibes the tone
Of every passion-hue she pauses on!
O, 'tis the cheek that's false-so subtly taught
It takes not of its colour from the thought;
But like volcanic mountains veiled in snow,
Hides the heart's lava, while it works below!
And there were two who loved, but never told
Their love to one another: years had rolled
Since Passion touched them with his purple wing,
Though still their youth was in its blossoming.
Lofty of soul, as riches were denied,
He deemed it mean to woo a wealthy bride;
And (for her tears were secret) coldly she
Wreathed her pale brow in maiden dignity;
Yet each had caught the other's eye reposing,
And, far as looks disclose, the truth disclosing;
But when they met, pride checked the soul's warm sigh,
And froze the melting spirit of the eye:-
A pride in vulgar hearts that never shone.
And thus they loved, and silently loved on ;
But this was not a moment when the head
Could trifle with the heart! The cloud that spread
Its chilling veil between them, now had past—
Too long awaking-but they woke at last!
He rushed where clung the fainting fair one-sought
To soothe with hopes he felt not, cherished not;
And while in passionate support he prest,
She raised her eyes then swiftly on his breast
Hid her blanched cheek—as if resigned to share
The worst with him;-nay, die contented there!
That silent act was fondly eloquent;
And to the youth's deep soul, like lightning, sent
A gleam of rapture-exquisite yet brief,
As his (poor wretch) that in the grave of grief
Feels Fortune's sun burst on him, and looks up
With hope to heaven-forgetful of the cup,
The deadly cup his shivering hand yet strained-
A hot heart-pang reminds him-it is drained!
Away with words! for when had true love ever
A happy star to bless it ?-Never, never!
And oh, the brightest after-smile of Fate
Is but a sad reprieve, which comes too late!
The riot shout pealed on;-but deep distress
Had sunk all else in utter hopelessness!
One marked the strife of frenzy and despair-
The most concerned, and yet the calmest there;
In bitterness of soul beheld his crew-
He should have known them, and he thought he knew ;
The blood-hound on the leash may fawn, obey—
He'll tear thee, shouldest thou cross him at his prey!
One only trust survives a doubtful one-
But O, how cherished, every other gone!
"While hold our cables, fear not"-As he spoke
A sea burst o'er them, and their cables broke!
Then like a lion bounding from the toil,
The ship shot through the billow's black recoil;
Urged by the howling blast-all guidance gone-
They shuddering felt her reeling, rushing on—
Nor dared to question where; nor dared to cast
One asking look-for that might be their last!
What frowns so steep in front-a cliff? a rock?
The groaning vessel staggers in the shock!
The last shriek rings.
Hark! whence that voice they hear
Loud o'er the rushing waters-loud and near?
Alas! they dream!-'tis but the ocean roar !—
Oh no! it echoes from the swarming shore !
Kind Heaven, thy hand was there. With swelling bound
The vast waves heaved the giant hull aground;
And, ebbing with the turning tide, became,
Like dying monsters, impotent and tame;
Wedged in the sand their chafing can no more
Than lave her sides, and deaden with their roar
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