4.8

PENDANT, ARMORS, AND QUARTERS.

Here, the bold native of her cliffs above,

Perched by the martial Maid the bird of Jove;

There, on the watch, sagacious of his prey,
With eyes of fire, an English mastiff lay:
Yonder, fair Commerce stretched her winged sail,
Here, frowned the god that wakes the living gale.
High o'er the Poop, the flattering winds unfurled
Th' imperial Flag that rules the watery World.
Deep blushing Armors all the Tops invest,

And warlike trophies either Quarter drest:

Then towered the Masts, the Canvass swelled on high,

And waving Streamers floated in the sky.

Thus the rich Vessel moves in trim array,

Like some fair Virgin on her bridal day;

Thus, like a Swan, she cleaved the watery Plain,

The pride and wonder of th' Ægean main.

END OF THE FIRST CANTO.

SECOND CANTO:

The Scene lies at Sea, between Cape Freschin, in Candia, and the Island of Falconera, which is nearly twelve leagues northward of Cape Spado.

TIME, FROM NINE IN THE Morning until ONE O'CLOCK

OF THE NEXT DAY AT NOON.

ARGUMENT.

I. Reflections on leaving Shore...II. Favourable Breeze... WaterSpout... The dying Dolphin... Breeze freshens... Ship's rapid progress along the Coast... Top-Sails reefed... Gale of Wind... Last appearance, bearing, and distance, of Cape Spado... A Squall... Top-Sails double reefed... Main-Sail split... The Ship bears up; again hauls upon the Wind... Another Main-Sail bent, and set... Porpoises... III. The Ship driven out of her course from Candia... Heavy Gale... Top-Sails furled... Top-gallantyards lowered... Heavy Sea... Threatening Sun-set... Difference of Opinion respecting the mode of taking in the MainSail... Courses reefed... Four Seamen lost off the lee Mainyard-arm... Anxiety of the Master, and his Mates, on being near a Lee-shore... Mizen reefed... IV. A tremendous Sea bursts over the Deck; its consequences... The Ship labours in great Distress... Guns thrown overboard... Dismal appearance of the Weather... Very high and dangerous Sea... Storm of Lightning... Severe fatigue of the Crew at the Pumps... Critical situation of the Ship near the Island Falconera... Consultation and resolution of the Officers... Speech and advice of ALBERT; his devout Address to Heaven... Order given to scud... The Fore Stay-Sail hoisted and split... The Head Yards braced aback... The Mizen-Mast cut away.

I. ADIEU! ye pleasures of the sylvan scene,

Where Peace, and calm Contentment, dwell serene :
To me, in vain, on earth's prolific soil

With Summer crowned, th' Elysian vallies smile;

J. Fittier Sculp

To me those happier scenes no joy impart,

But tantalize with hope my aching heart:
Ye tempests! o'er my head congenial roll
To suit the mournful music of my soul;
In black progression, lo, they hover near,
Hail social Horrors! like my fate severe :
Old Ocean hail! beneath whose azure zone
The secret Deep lies unexplored, unknown.
Approach, ye brave Companions of the Sea!
And fearless view this awful Scene with me.
Ye native guardians of your Country's Laws!
Ye brave assertors of her sacred Cause!

The Muse invites you, judge if she depart,
Unequal, from the thorny rules of art;

In practice trained, and conscious of her power,
She boldly moves to meet the trying hour:
Her voice attempting themes, before unknown
To Music, sings distresses all her own.

II. O'er the smooth bosom of the faithless tides,
Propelled by flattering gales, the Vessel glides:
RODMOND exulting felt th' auspicious Wind,
And by a mystic charm its aim confin'd.