Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat, And, by the holy rood! A man all light, a seraph-man, On every corse there stood. This seraph-band, each waved his hand: It was a heavenly sight! They stood as signals to the land, Each one a lovely light : This seraph-band, each waved his hand, No voice did they impart No voice; but oh! the silence sank Like music on my heart. But soon I heard the dash of oars, I heard the Pilot's cheer; My head was turn'd perforce away, And I saw a boat appear. [Then vanish'd all the lovely lights; The bodies rose anew : With silent pace, each to his place, Came back the ghastly crew. The wind that shade nor motion made On me alone it blew.]* *This stanza only appears in the edition of 1798. In a copy of that edition the stanza is marked through, and the following lines are substituted in the margin in the handwriting of the author: "Then vanish'd all the lovely lights, The spirits of the air, No souls of mortal men were they, But spirits bright and fair." |