And life in me: there was a horrid kind And the end ? Myr. And was the ancestor of heroes, too, Ay, Myrrha, but the woman, Embraced me, while I shrunk from her, as if, Myr. So shalt thou find me ever at thy side, I am better. SATAN AT HEAVEN'S GATE. A Spirit of a different aspect waved Whose barren beach with frequent wrecks is paved; His brow was like the deep when tempest-tost; Fierce and unfathomable thoughts engraved THE SHIPWRECK. 'Twas twilight, for the sunless day went down Over the waste of waters ; like a veil, Which, if withdrawn, would but disclose the frown Of one who hates us, so the night was shown, And grimly darkled o'er their faces pale, And hopeless eyes, which o'er the deep alone Gazed dim and desolate; twelve days had Fear Been their familiar, and now Death was here. Some trial had been making at a raft, With little hope in such a rolling sea, If any laughter at such time could be, And have a kind of wild and horrid glee, And all things, for a chance, had been cast loose, That still could keep afloat the struggling tars, For yet they strove, although of no great use: There was no light in heaven but a few stars, The boats put off o'ercrowded with their crews; She gave a heel, and then a lurch to port, And going down head foremost-sunk, in short, Then rose from sea to sky the wild farewell, Then shriek'd the timid, and stood still the brave, Then some leap'd overboard with dreadful yell, As eager to anticipate their grave; And down she suck'd with her the whirling wave, Louder than the loud ocean, like a crash Of echoing thunder : and then all was hushid, Save the wild wind, and the remorseless dash Accompanied with a convulsive splash, There were two fathers in this ghastly crew, And with them their two sons, of whom the one Was more robust and hardy to the view, But he died early; and when he was gone, His nearest messmate told his sire, who threw One glance on him, and said, “Heaven's will be I can do nothing," and he saw him thrown (done, Into the deep without a tear or groan. The other father had a weaklier child, Of a soft cheek, and aspect delicate ; But the boy bore up long, and with a mild And patient spirit held aloof his fate ; Little he said, and now and then he smiled, As if to win a part from off the weight He saw increasing on his father's heart, With the deep deadly thought, that they must part. And o'er him bent his sire, and never raised His eyes from off his face, but wiped the foam From his pale lips, and ever on him gazed, And when the wish'd for shower at length was come, And the boy's eyes, which the dull film half glazed, Brightened, and for a moment seem'd to roam, nd looked upon it long, and when at last Death left no doubt, and the dead burthen lay. Stiff on his heart, and pulse and hope were past, He watch'd it wistfully, until away 'Twas borne by the rude wave wherein 'twas cast. Then he himself sunk down, all dumb and shivering, And gave no sign of life, save his limbs quivering. Now overhead, a rainbow, bursting through The scattering clouds, shone-spanning the dark sea, Resting its bright base on the quivering blue: And all within its arch appeared to be Clearer than that without, and its wide hue Wax'd broad and waving, like a banner free, Then changed like to a bow that's bent, and then Forsook the dim eyes of these shipwreck'd men, It changed, of course; a heavenly cameleon, The airy child of vapour and the sun, Brought forth in purple, cradled in vermilion. Baptized in molten gold, and swathed in dun. Glittering like crescents o'er a Turk's pavilion, And blending every colour into one. With twilight it again came on to blow, But not with violence; the stars shone out, The boat made way: yet now they were so low, They knew not where nor what they were about. Some fancied they saw land, and some said “No!” The frequent fog-banks gave them cause to doubt, Some swore that they heard breakers, others guns, And all mistook about the latter once. As morning broke, the light wind died away, When he who had the watch sung out and swore If 'twas not land that rose with the sun's ray, He wish'd that land he never might see more; |