The Massachusetts spy., 1821-07-11

THE SHIPWRECK.
THE daylight sank, and the winds valid
about
The barqne wherein the lnckless couple Law.
And from the distant cloud came scattering out
Rivers Of FIRE: it seem'd as though the day
Had burst from out the pillows, far away.
No pilot had they their small boat TO steer
Aside from rocks, no sea-worn mariner
Who knew each creek and bay and sheltering
steep.
The storm continu'd, and no voice was heard,
Save that Of some poor solitary bird,
Who sought shelter on the quivering mast,
But, soon borne off by the tremendous blast,
Sank in the waters screaming. The great sea
Bard like grave its bosom silently:
Then sank and painted like an angry thing,
With its own strength at war the vessel flew
Towards the land, and then the pillows grew
Larger and white, and roar'd as triumphing,
Scattering afar and wide the heavy spray
That shone like loose snow as il pass'd away.
AT first the dolphin and the po:poise dark
Came rolling by them, aud the hungry shark
FolIow'd the boat, patient and eager ey'd,
And the grey curlew slanting dipp'd her side;
And the hoarse gull his wing within the foam !;
But some had sank, the rest had hurried home.
And there pale Julia and her husband, clasp'd
Each in the others arms, safe viewing death: :
She for his sake, at times IN terrour gasp'd,
But he TO cheer her, kept his steady breath,
Talking of hope, and smil'd like morning
There
They safe together in their sweet despair:
At times upon his breast she laid her head,
And he upon her silent beauty fed,
flushing her tears-and tween her and the
storm,
Drew his embroidered cloak to keep her warm
She thanked him with a look upturn'd to his,
To which he answered with gentle kiss
Press'd and prolonged TO pain. Her lip was
cold;
And all her love and terrour mutely told.
o thou vast Ocean ever-sounding Sea
Thou symbol of drear immensity
Thou thing that Windest round the solid world
Like huge animal, which, downward hurl'd
From the black clouds, lies weltering and
alone,
Lashing and wrthing TIL its strength be gone.
Thy voice is like the thunder, and thy sleep
Is as giants slumber, loud and deep.
Thou speakest in the East and in the West
AT once, and on thy heavily laden breast,
Fleets come and go, and shapes that hztve no
life
Or motion, yet are moy'd and meet in strife.
The earth hath nought Of this +: no chance nor
change
Ruffies its surface, and no spirits dare
Give answer to the tempest-waken air;
But DER its wastes the weakly tenants range
At will, and wound IFS bosom as they go:
Ever the same, it hath no ebb, no flow;
But in their stated rounds the seasons come,
Andpass like visions to their viewless home,
And come again, and vanish: the young
Spring
Looks ever bright with leaves and blossommg,
And winter always winds his sulIen horn,
When the wild Autumn with look forlorn,
Dies in his stormy manhood and the skies
Weep, and flowers sicken when the Summer
flies.
Oh wonderful thou art, great element;
And fearful in the spleeny humours bent,
And lovely IN repose thy summer form
Is beautiful; and when thy silver waves
Make musick in earth's dark and winding
caves,
] love to wander on thy pebbled beach,
Marking the sunlight at the ey'ning hour,
And hearken to the thoughts thy waters teach
: Eternity, eternity, and Power
And now-whither are gone the lovers now?
Colonna, wear'st thou anguish on thy brow,
And is the yalour OF the moment gone ?
Fair Julia, thou art smiling now alone:
The hero and the husband weeps at last
Alas, alas ! and 10 he stands aghast,
Bankrupt in every hope, and silently gasps
Like one who maddens. Hark the timbers
part,
And the sea-billows come, and still he clasps
His pale, pale beauty closer to his heart!
The ship has struck. One liss-the last
Loves own.
They plunge into the waters and are gone
The vessel sinks-'tis vanish'd and the sea
Rolls boiling DER the wreck triumphantly,
Aud shrieks are heard and cries, and then short
groans,
Which the waves stiae quick, and doubtful
tones
Like the faint meanings of the wind pass by,
And horrid gurgling sounds rise up and die,
And noises like the choking of mans breath!
But why prolong the tale-it IS Of death.