II.

After, at sea a tall ship did appeare,

Made all of heben* and white yvorie;

The sailes of golde, of silke the tackle were.

Milde was the winde, calme seem’d the sea to bee,

The skie eachwhere did show full bright and faire:

With rich treasures this gay ship fraighted was:

But sudden storme did so turmoyle the aire,

And tumbled up the sea, that she, alas!

Strake on a rock, that under water lay,

And perished past all recoverie.

O! how great ruth, and sorrow-full assay**,

Doth vex my spirite with perplexitie,

Thus in a moment to see lost and drown’d

So great riches as like cannot be found.

[* _Heben_, ebony.]

[** _Assay_, trial.]

The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5 · 第 155 / 327 题