Now freshening breezes swell the sail,
Now leans the vessel to the gale;
So slant her deck, you have to cling
A moment to the nearest thing;
So far she bends into the deep,
Across her deck the white waves sweep;
Bursts through the flood the pointed prow,
That loves the startled foam to throw,
And thunders on before the wind,
Long breaks of whirl and froth behind;
And when the seas the bows o'erwhelm,
The captain mutters, "mind your helm!"
At night, when stormy shadows fall,
"All hands on deck," the captain's call.
Darkness around, save when below
Dim light the bursting billows throw--
And heave the waves, and beats the rain--
The labouring vessel groans with pain;
Strains--lurches--thunders--rocks and rolls,
We smile--but tremble in our souls!
Fierce howls the blast through sail and shroud,
And rings the tempest long and loud;
But sweet the change, when tranquilly
In sunshine sleep the air and sea.
Pen may not paint each magic dye
On the soft wave and sunny sky,
When comes the charming silent eve,
And gentle billows idly heave.
The liquid floor bends smooth and bright,
Like molten silver to the light;
Till, as the western clouds enfold
The fiery sun, it turns to gold,
And then a thousand colours, straying
From heaven to earth, and sweetly playing
Upon the ocean's giant breast,
Compose his savage soul to rest.
And thus, within the human mind,
When waves are hushed and still the wind,
When passion's storm has passed away,
And vice no more obscures the day,
The beams of virtue and of love
Break softly, falling from above,
O'er half-breathed wordly wishes shine,
And calm them with a power divine.