Deep midnight now involves the livid skies, "All hands unmoor!" proclaims a boisterous cry: With winning postures now the wanton sails Spread all their snares to charm th' inconstant gales. The swelling stu'n sails now their wings extend, Then stay-sails sidelong to the breeze ascend: While all to court the wandering breeze are placed; The natives, while the ship departs the land, stream. The wales, that close above in contrast shone, | Gazed o'er the vassal-wave that roll'd below: view! Th' immortal shield from Neptune she received, Then tower'd the masts, the canvas swell'd on FROM THE SAME. Distress of the vessel-heaving of the guns overboard. No season this for counsel or delay! Too soon th' eventful moments haste away! Here perseverance, with each help of art, Must join the boldest efforts of the heart. These only now their misery can relieve; These only now a dawn of safety give! While o'er the quivering deck from van to rear, Broad surges roll in terrible career, Rodmond, Arion, and a chosen crew, This office in the face of death pursue. The wheel'd artillery o'er the deck to guide, Rodmond descending claim'd the weather-side. Fearless of heart, the chief his orders gave; Fronting the rude assaults of every wave. [deep, Like some strong watch-tower nodding o'er the Whose rocky base the foaming waters sweep, Untamed he stood; the stern aërial war, Had mark'd his honest face with many a scar.Meanwhile Arion, traversing the waist, The cordage of the leeward guns unbraced, And pointed crows beneath their metal placed. Watching the roll, their forelocks they withdrew, And from their beds the reeling cannon threw, Then, from the windward battlements unbound, Rodmond's associates wheel th' artillery round; Pointed with iron fangs, their bars beguile The ponderous arms across the steep defile; Then, hurl'd from sounding hinges o'er the side, Thundering they plunge into the flashing tide. FROM THE SAME. Council of officers-Albert's directions to prepare for the last extremities. AGAIN the chief th' instructive draught extends, And o'er the figured plane attentive bends! To him the motion of each orb was known, That wheels around the sun's refulgent throne; But here, alas, his science nought avails! Art droops unequal, and experience fails. The different traverses since twilight made, He on the hydrographic circle laid; Then the broad angle of lee-way explored, As swept across the graduated chord. Her place discover'd by the rules of art, Unusual terrors shook the master's heart; When Falconera's rugged isle be found [bound; Within her drift, with shelves, and breakers For if on those destructive shallows tost, The helpless bark with all her crew are lost: As fatal still appears, that danger o'er, The steep St. George, and rocky Gardalor. With him the pilots of their hopeless state In mournful consultation now debate. Not more perplexing doubts her chiefs appal But here the queen of shade around them threw Black melancholy ruled the fearful hour! Ye faithful mates, who all my troubles share, Yet now, the hour, the scene, the occasion known, Blunt was his speech, and naked was his heart; Too true the perils of the present hour, Where toils exceeding toils our strength o'erpower! Yet whither can we turn, what road pursue, Thus while he spoke, around from man to man Not twice nine summers yet matured his thought. But now the horrors that around him roll, Thus roused to action his rekindling soul. With fix'd attention pondering in my mind The dark distresses on each side combin'd: While here we linger in the pass of fate, I see no moment left for sad debate. For, some decision if we wish to form, Ere yet our vessel sink beneath the storm, Her shatter'd state and yon desponding crew At once suggest what measures to pursue. The labouring hull already seems half-fill'd With waters through a hundred leaks distill'd; As in a dropsy, wallowing with her freight, Half-drown'd she lies, a dead inactive weight; Thus drench'd by every wave, her riven deck Stripp'd and defenceless floats a naked wreck; Her wounded flanks no longer can sustain These fell invasions of the bursting main. At every pitch the o'erwhelming billows bend, Beneath their load, the quivering bowsprit end. A fearful warning! since the masts on high On that support with trembling hope rely. At either pump our seamen pant for breath, In dark dismay anticipating death. Still all our power th' increasing leak defy : We sink at sea, no shore, no haven nigh. One dawn of hope yet breaks athwart the gloom, To light and save us from the wat'ry tomb, That bids us shun the death impending here; Fly from the following blast, and shoreward steer. "Tis urged indeed, the fury of the gale Precludes the help of every guiding sail; And driven before it on the watery waste, To rocky shores and scenes of death we haste. But haply Falconera we may shun; And far to Grecian coasts is yet the run: Less harass'd then, our scudding ship may bear Th' assaulting surge repell'd upon her rear; Even then the wearied storms as soon shall die, Or less torment the groaning pines on high. Should we at last be driven by dire decree Too near the fatal margin of the sea, The hull dismasted there a while may ride, With lengthen'd cables on the raging tide. Perhaps kind Heaven, with interposing power, May curb the tempest ere that dreadful hour. But here ingulf'd and foundering while we stay Fate hovers o'er and marks us for her prey. He said:-Palemon saw, with grief of heart, The storm prevailing o'er the pilot's art; In silent terror and distress involved, He heard their last alternative resolved. High beat his bosom; with such fear subdued; Beneath the gloom of some enchanted wood, Oft in old time the wandering swain explored The midnight wizards' breathing rites abhorr'd; Trembling approach'd their incantations fell, And, chill'd with horror, heard the songs of hell. Arion saw, with secret anguish moved, The deep affliction of the friend he loved; And, all awake to friendship's genial heat, His bosom felt consenting tumults beat. Alas! no season this for tender love; Far hence the music of the myrtle grove! 2U The rocky shelves, in safety to the shore. With comfort's soothing voice, from hope deceived, This floating lumber shall sustain them o'er Unhappy partners in a wayward fate! Whose gallant spirits now are known too late, Ye! who unmoved behold this angry storm Its terrors all the rolling deep deform, Who, patient in adversity, still bear The firmest front when greatest ills are near! The truth, though grievous, I must now reveal, That long in vain I purposed to conceal. Ingulf'd, all helps of art we vainly try, To weather leeward shores, alas! too nigh. Our crazy bark no longer can abide The seas that thunder o'er her batter'd side; And while the leaks a fatal warning give, That in this raging sea she cannot live, One only refuge from despair we find; At once to wear and scud before the wind. Perhaps even then to ruin we may steer; For broken shores beneath our lee appear; But that's remote, and instant death is here; Yet there, by Heaven's assistance we may gain Some creek or inlet of the Grecian main; Or, shelter'd by some rock, at anchor ride, Till with abating rage the blast subside. But if, determined by the will of Heaven, Our helpless bark at last ashore is driven, These counsels follow'd, from the wat'ry grave Our floating sailors in the surf may save. And first let all our axes be secured, To cut the masts and rigging from aboard. Then to the quarters bind each plank and oar, To float between the vessel and the shore. The longest cordage too must be convey'd On deck, and to the weather rails belay'd. So they who haply reach alive the land, Th' extended lines may fasten on the strand. Whene'er loud thundering on the leeward shore, While yet aloof we hear the breakers roar, Thus for the terrible event prepared, Brace fore and aft to starboard every yard. So shall our masts swim lighter on the wave, And from the broken rocks our seamen save. Then westward turn the stem, that every mast May shoreward fall, when from the vessel cast.When o'er her side once more the billows bound, Ascend the rigging till she strikes the ground: And when you hear aloft the alarming shock That strikes her bottom on some pointed rock, The boldest of our sailors must descend, The dangerous business of the deck to tend; Then each, secured by some convenient cord, Should cut the shrouds and rigging from the board. Let the broad axes next assail each mast! And booms, and oars, and rafts to leeward cast. Thus, while the cordage stretch'd ashore may guide Our brave companions through the swelling tide, I know among you some full oft have view'd, With murd'ring weapons arm'd, a lawless brood, On England's vile inhuman shore who stand, The foul reproach and scandal of our land! To rob the wanderers wreck'd upon the strand. These, while their savage office they pursue, Oft wound to death the helpless, plunder'd crew, Who, 'scaped from every horror of the main, Implored their mercy, but implored in vain. But dread not this!-a crime to Greece unknown, Such blood-hounds all her circling shores disown; Her sons, by barbarous tyranny oppress'd, Can share affliction with the wretch distress'd: Their hearts, by cruel fate inur'd to grief, Oft to the friendless stranger yield relief. With conscious horror struck, the naval band Detested for a while their native land: They cursed the sleeping vengeance of the laws, That thus forgot her guardian sailors' cause. Meanwhile the master's voice again they heard, Whom, as with filial duty all revered. No more remains-but now a trusty band Must ever at the pump industrious stand; And while with us the rest attend to wear, Two skilful seamen to the helm repair!O Source of life! our refuge and our stay! Whose voice the warring elements obey, On thy supreme assistance we rely; Thy mercy supplicate, if doom'd to die! Perhaps this storm is sent, with healing breath, From neighbouring shores to scourge disease and death! 'Tis ours on thine unerring laws to trust: With thee, great Lord! "whatever is, is just.” FROM THE SAME. The vessel going to pieces-death of Albert. AND now, lash'd on by destiny severe, With horror fraught the dreadful scene drew near! The ship hangs hovering on the verge of death, Hell yawns, rocks rise, and breakers roar beneath! In vain, alas! the sacred shades of yore Would arm the mind with philosophic lore; In vain they'd teach us, at the latest breath, To smile serene amid the pangs of death. Even Zeno's self, and Epictetus old, This fell abyss had shudder'd to behold. Had Socrates, for godlike virtue famed, And wisest of the sons of men proclaim'd, Beheld this scene of frenzy and distress, His soul had trembled to its last recess !— O yet confirm my heart, ye powers above, This last tremendous shock of fate to prove; The tottering frame of reason yet sustain; Nor let this total ruin whirl my brain! In vain the cords and axes were prepared, Her giant bulk the dread concussion feels, As o'er the surge the stooping main-mast hung, Still on the rigging thirty seamen clung: Some, struggling, on a broken crag were cast, And there by oozy tangles grappled fast: Awhile they bore th' o'erwhelming billows' rage, Unequal combat with their fate to wage; Till all benumb'd and feeble they forego Their slippery hold, and sink to shades below. Some, from the main-yard-arm impetuous thrown On marble ridges, die without a groan. Three with Palemon on their skill depend, And from the wreck on oars and rafts descend. Now on the mountain-wave on high they ride, Then downward plunge beneath th' involving tide; Till one, who seems in agony to strive, Next, O unhappy chief! th' eternal doom Of Heaven decreed thee to the briny tomb! What scenes of misery torment thy view! What painful struggles of thy dying crew! Thy perish'd hopes all buried in the flood, O'erspread with corses! red with human blood! So pierced with anguish hoary Priam gazed, When Troy's imperial domes in ruin blazed; While he, severest sorrow doom'd to feel, Expired beneath the victor's murdering steel. Thus with his helpless partners till the last, Sad refuge! Albert hugs the floating mast; His soul could yet sustain the mortal blow, But droops, alas! beneath superior woe: For now soft nature's sympathetic chain Tugs at his yearning heart with powerful strain; His faithful wife for ever doom'd to mourn For him, alas! who never shall return; To black adversity's approach exposed, With want and hardships unforeseen inclosed: His lovely daughter left without a friend, Her innocence to succour and defend; By youth and indigence set forth a prey To lawless guilt, that flatters to betrayWhile these reflections rack his feeling mind, Rodmond, who hung beside, his grasp resign'd; And, as the tumbling waters o'er him roll'd, His out-stretch'd arms the master's legs enfold.— Sad Albert feels the dissolution near, And strives in vain his fetter'd limbs to clear; For death bids every clinging joint adhere. All-faint, to Heaven he throws his dying eyes, And, "O protect my wife and child!" he cries: The gushing streams roll back th' unfinish'd sound! He gasps! he dies! and tumbles to the ground! MARK AKENSIDE. [Born, 1721. Died, 1770.] Ir may be easy to point out in Akenside a superfluous pomp of expression; yet the character which Pope bestowed on him, "that he was not an every day writer," is certainly apparent in the decided tone of his moral sentiments, and in his spirited maintenance of great principles. His verse has a sweep of harmony that seems to accord with an emphatic mind. He encountered in his principal poem the more than ordinary difficulties of a didactic subject. "To paint the finest features of the mind, And to most subtle and mysterious things Give colour, strength, and motion."-Book i. The object of his work was to trace the various [* While he was yet unknown.] Viz., his comparison of the Votary of Imagination to a Knight Errant in some enchanted paradise, Pleasures of Imagination, book iii. 1, 507; in his sketch of the village matron, book i. 1, 255; and in a passage of book iii. at line 379, beginning "But were not nature thus endowed at pleasures which we receive from nature and art to their respective principles in the human imagination, and to show the connection of those principles with the moral dignity of man, and the final purposes of his creation. His leading speculative ideas are derived from Plato, Addison, Shaftesbury, and Hutchinson. To Addison he has been accused of being indebted for more than he acknowledged; but surely in plagiarisms from the Spectator it might be taken for granted, that no man could have counted on concealment; and there are only three passages (I think) in his poem where his obligations to that source are worthy of notice.† Independent of these, it is large." His ideas of the final cause of our delight in the vast and illimitable, is the same with one expressed in the Spectator, No. 413. But Addison and he borrowed it in common from the sublime theology of Plato. The leading hint of his well-known passage, "Say, why was man so eminently raised," &c., is avowedly taken from Longinus. |