I cried. . . . That yonder waters are not spread A boundless waste, a bourne impassable! .. That man should rule the Elements ! . . that there Might manly courage, manly wisdom find Some happy isle, some undiscovered shore, Some resting place for peace... Oh that my soul Could seize the wings of Morning! soon would I Behold that other world, where yonder sun Speeds now, to dawn in glory!
Conviction came upon my startled mind,
Like lightning on the midnight traveller.
I caught his hand; .. Kinsman and guide and friend Yea, let us go together!... Down we sate, Full of the vision on the echoing shore; One only object fill'd ear, eye, and thought: We gazed upon the aweful world of waves,
And talk'd and dreamt of years that were to come
NOT with a heart unmoved I left thy shores, Dear native isle! oh... not without a pang, As thy fair uplands lessened on the view, Cast back the long involuntary look! The morning cheer'd our outset; gentle airs Curl'd the blue deep, and bright the summer sun Play'd o'er the summer ocean, when our barks Began their way.
And they were gallant barks, As ever through the raging billows rode; And many a tempest's buffeting they bore. Their sails all swelling with the eastern breeze, Their tighten'd cordage clattering to the mast, Steady they rode the main; the gale aloft Sung in the shrouds, the sparkling waters hiss'd Before, and froth'd, and whiten'd far behind. Day after day, with one auspicious wind, Right to the setting sun we held our course. My hope had kindled every heart; they blest The unvarying breeze, whose unabating strength Still sped us onward; and they said that Heaven Favour'd the bold emprize.
How many a time, Mounting the mast-tower-top, with eager ken
They gazed, and fancied in the distant sky Their promised shore, beneath the evening cloud, Or seen, low lying, through the haze of morn. I too with eyes as anxious watch'd the waves, Though patient, and prepared for long delay; For not on wild adventure had I rush'd With giddy speed, in some delirious fit
Of fancy; but in many a tranquil hour
Weigh'd well the attempt, till hope matured to faith. Day after day, day after day the same, .. A weary waste of waters! still the breeze, Hung heavy in our sails, and we held on One even course: a second week was gone, And now another past, and still the same, Waves beyond waves, the interminable sea! What marvel, if at length the mariners
Grew sick with long expectance? I beheld Dark looks of growing restlessness, I heard Distrust's low murmurings; nor avail'd it long To see and not perceive. Shame had awhile Represt their fear, till like a smother'd fire It burst, and spread with quick contagion round, And strengthen❜d as it spread. They spake in tones Which might not be mistaken; . . They had done What men dared do, ventured where never keel Had cut the deep before; still all was sea, The same unbounded ocean! . . to proceed Were tempting heaven.
I heard with feign'd surprise, And, pointing then to where our fellow bark, Gay with her fluttering streamers and full sails, Rode, as in triumph, o'er the element,
I ask'd them what their comrades there would deem Of those so bold ashore, who, when a day,
Perchance an hour might crown their glorious toil, Shrunk then, and coward-like return'd to meet Mockery and shame? True, they had ventured on In seas unknown, beyond where ever man Had plough'd the billows yet: more reason so Why they should now, like him whose happy speed Well nigh hath run the race, with higher hope Press onward to the prize. But late they said, Marking the favour of the steady gale,
That heaven was with us; Heaven vouchsafed us still Fair seas and favouring skies; nor need we pray For other aid, the rest was in ourselves; Nature had given it, when she gave to man Courage and constancy.
Awhile obedient; but I saw with dread The silent sullenness of cold assent.
Then, with what fearful eagerness I gazed
At earliest daybreak, o'er the distant deep! How sick at heart with hope, when evening closed, Gazed through the gathering shadows!... but I saw The sun still sink below the endless waves, And still at morn, beneath the farthest sky, Unbounded ocean heaved. Day after day Before the steady gale we drove along, .. Day after day! The fourth week now had past; Still all around was sea, the eternal sea! So long that we had voyaged on so fast, And still at morning where we were at night, And where we were at morn, at nightfall still,
The centre of that drear circumference, Progressive, yet no change! . . almost it seem'd That we had pass'd the mortal bounds of space, And speed was toiling in infinity.
My days were days of fear, my hours of rest Were like a tyrant's slumber. Sullen looks, Eyes turn'd on me, and whispers meant to meet My ear, and loud despondency, and talk Of home, now never to be seen again, .. I suffer'd these, dissembling as I could, Till that avail'd no longer. Resolute
The men came round me: They had shown enough Of courage now, enough of constancy;
Still to pursue the desperate enterprize
Were impious madness! they had deem'd, indeed, That Heaven in favour gave the unchanging gale;.. More reason now to think offended God, When man's presumptuous folly strove to pass The fated limits of the world, had sent
His winds, to waft us to the death we sought. Their lives were dear, they bade me know, and they Many, and I, the obstinate, but one.
With that, attending no reply, they hailed
Our fellow bark, and told their fix'd resolve.
A shout of joy approved. Thus, desperate now, I sought my solitary cabin; there
Confused with vague tumultuous feelings lay, And to remembrance and reflection lost,
Knew only I was wretched.
Cadwallon found me; shame, and grief, and pride, And baffled hope, and fruitless anger swell'd
« 前へ次へ » |