The Cecil Whig., 1850-06-08
A DIAGNiFICENT POEM.
[tor The Cecil Whig.l
A T L A NJ T IS.

Deep in the breast OF the hcaving u,an
Far down irnm the turbulent motion
OF Tide and storm, in the sunless reign
And the cavernous ha lis Of 0 cean,
Where never the voice of man hath hcen,
His foot hath strayed nor his eve hath seen,
Mid solitude, gloom and cliffs and caves,
And STOW bright sands and land OF graves
Tner. are beautiful sights, there are silver and
gold,
And Golfers the wealth Of a nation that hold,
There are tenpler and towers and cities vast,
lInrockcd by the biow. unswept by the blast;
But their halls are silent as silent may be
Far down in the hear, ofthe peaceful sea:
And whatever of song and Whatever OF Inirth,
Whatever ofjoy may have there had birth,
it is heard no more, it is silent now,
And wreath there is for tho reveer's brow
OF dust and ofs'ime and of sea weed cold,
In many n lnnk and feless fold,
beautiful wreath for the revcllsr's brow
But the sound of the revel il silent now.
There are statues oisiIver nd statues Of brass,
And you turn to gnze as along you pass,
For their hands are outstretcled as to greet you
there,
But the sea flower leans thro' their golden hair
There arc gorgeous altars and costly shriues,
That glow with the wealth ofa thousand Mines
The steps unascendcd, the ashes unstrown,
Tie victim untouched, and the fillet ungrown,
The ritual closed, the tires all dim,
There arc towering arches and grand arccdes,
And giant columns and colonnades
Whose glittering pedestals, fr,ezes and flutes
Are carved with a II bea utiful leaves and fruits
There are gardens and paths with the rurest
flowers,
That know not the kiss of the falling showers,
Ofwondrous texture and heavenly hucs,
Unrockcd by the zephyr, untipped by the dews.
There are turrets and spires that strangely glow i,
lat all h.In
A nd ivory couches in golden halls,
With the tapestry Hoating upon the walls,
And the trappings Of stceds and helmets an d
swords,
And the mit res of kings and the mitros of!ords,
And banners and sngs and glil,eriue Shields
With The bloody spoils OF thousand fields.
But the rage ut the battle forever is Ser
And the tramp Of the charger is heard no more
For the warrior hath SINK 10 his last long rest,
The weed on his brow and the wave Oh his
hreast
From the stormy field to peaceful grave,
Far down in the heart of the moaning wave.
Aud manv splendid navy wcl,crs
With the silver otcrumhling sands 'crstrown,
Tint sways with an easy, lnccssant motion
In the dcop, grccn waters alenc, unknown:
Strange, serpcnine pa.'s in beauty grow,
And the sea-siar clinTs to the brazen prov,
And ever fearful shadow falls,
And wandcis like Night llro' those watcry
bowers,
AS tho Shark careers through his fielding balls
Or the Titan bulk OF the Sword fish lowers
1herr are beautiful forms II young and fair,
with the ight still fresh OH their floating har,
Bu, a fearful pa llor sits on each face,
II hath lost the smile of lis former grace,
Aud heads all white with the SHOWS of Time
But each hp is sealed with seal Of slime
And the Nvmphs Of Ocean their fingers tw irl
IN the scanty bra,ds Of eacl, frosty curl.
So with many city and many town,
This autiIul Island, far down, far down
From the hustle of life and the hight of day,
Hath slept while centuries rolled away
Aud whatever Of song and whatever Of mirth,
Whatever Joy may have there had birth,
It's heard no more e-it is silent now
And n wreath there is for the revc!ler's brow
And thousand navics in eIttcring pride,
Dn the blue dan X sea, o'c: ITS bosom glide,
Yet none may dream of the gems that glow
Far down in those lonely balls below.
And while the widest rolls the storm
It's banners across the murky sky,
And the bEow hits its awful form
And the tempest bursts on the mariners cyo.
Calm, I'm, below on bed Of slime,
Sleep the wealth and the glory of eide, time.
HindSor ": Y. II.