The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-09-29

THE DOVES LEAVING THE ARK.


sTiLL did an unseen Beng guide
The lonely vessel o'er the tide. y.
aud stih, With steady prov. K braves
t'he t,Ay OF the fosrinE waves
wnie acrce tao de,tgc pcrrs its rsssrn,
The tbunders goil--4fhs n,ei-oss gieam. y
When ocesn's mighty cisterns broks,
And earth. like a Fent cottage shook,
And slowly az its axle tnrn'd,
ne wa,ry planet moy'd and mourn'd;
Trough trembling at the tempesrs ire,
o. scorching 10 the lightning's hre,
While holding ia her Grm embrace
The remnant OF wasted race,
aiiii DER the waves the wandering stk
6oam'd Ike some lone. deserted barz.
slt now the storm has hush'd liz ire,
Tie wsrring elements retire
and from IS curtains dusk and dun
A'ook'c forth. once more, the sstonish'd sun.
What saw he there youns Nature's face
Vita sml'cs, and Joy, ,hd beauty faif
mo- not one featnre colr,d he traces
10 tell t.'In iifs vas ever there
Save when that little bstk was seen
Ia shew him where her pride had been.
BIZ. now from that secure abode
winged stranger went,
And svcia ise easement, open'd wide
jpyfal AEht she bent
E;gh mounting seem'd to seek the sky
With forward bresst. and sparkling eye
lhe captive set ut liberty.
90 went the dove on errand kind,
In seek mansion for mankind,
Tho scarce her meek eye dai'd 10 trace
The horrors Of that dresd6il place.
The waves with white and curling head
swept above the silent dead,
The heaving billows' dsshing surge
Eosrsely swelpd the hollow d'rge,
The heavy weight Of waters prest
The mighty monarch's mouldering breast,
The giant chief the sceptered hand,
the lip that pour'd The loud command,
The blooming chsek--the sparkling eye,
Now shrouded in tho sea-weed lie.
Hat still .hc pcnsive stranger spread
Her white wing o'er that ocean dread,
And oft her anxious eye she cast
Across that dark anc shureless waste.
For evening clad the skies in gloom,
And warn'd her Of her distant home
The stars that gsmmd the brow of night
Clanc'd coldly on her wavcriog fight
IN tears. the moon with trembling giean
Withdrew her faint end faded beam.
And DER that vas. and silent grave
Was spread the dark and boundicis wave.
with heating heart, and an nxious car,
Ste strove some esrthly sound to hesf.
10 vniS--no earthly sound was near.
Ii secmd the worlds etorna e,eep
Siad set.led DER that gloomy deep,
Nor slightest breath her bosom cheer'ds
Her own soft wings alone she heard.
But still that fearful dove. .preserv'd.
With unabating care,
Ihc olive ieaf--the type OF peace.
All fragrant, fresh and fair.
With pain her weary wing she stretch'd
Over the hiilows wide.
And oft her painting bosom droppd
Upon the briny tide.
The image Of her absent mate.
That cheer'd her as she stroyc with fate.
Grew darker On her eye.
IL scemd as if she heard him mourn,
In broken minstrelsy.
yc, ere her pinions ceas'd their fight,
ar clos'd her eye in endless night,
a hand the weary wandcrer prest
And drew her TO the ark Of rest.
Oh welcome to thy peaceful home,
No more DER that wild waste 20 roam.
When from this cell Of pain and woe.
Like that weak dove my soul shall 20.
And trembling still her haht shall urge,
Along this dark worlds doubtful verge
Vcr thy cold Aosi and foamng surge.
Iaen may the shrinking stranger spy
A plerc'd hand stretching frsm the sky,
Then hear voice in accents biest,
Rctnra--retusa unto thy rest"
Long prisond ia a wayward clime,
i.o,g Wounded with the thorns of time;
Long chiil'd by the Wild storms that pour
Acouad that dark, dccsi'ful shore,
hntcr--whsre 'horns shall wound and tcmpes.s