XVIII. And oh, the little warlike world within! The well-reev'd guns, the netted canopy," The hoarse command, the busy humming din, When, at a word, the tops are mann'd on high: Hark to the Boatswain's call, the cheering cry! While through the seaman's hand the tackle glides; Or school-boy Midshipman that, standing by, Strains his shrill pipe as good or ill betides, And well the docile crew that skilful urchin guides. XIX. White is the glassy deck, without a stain, Look on that part which sacred doth remain Conquest and Fame: but Britons rarely swerve From Law, however stern, which tends their strength to nerve. XX. Blow! swiftly blow, thou keel-compelling gale! Till the broad sun withdraws his lessening ray; Then must the pennant-bearer slacken sail, That lagging barks may make their lazy way. Ah! grievance sore, and listless dull delay, To waste on sluggish hulks the sweetest breeze! What leagues are lost before the dawn of day, Thus loitering pensive on the willing seas, The flapping sail haul'd down to halt for logs like these! XXI. The moon is up; by Heaven a lovely eve! Long streams of light o'er dancing waves expand; Wakes the brisk harmony that sailors love; Or to some well-known measure featly move, Thoughtless, as if on shore they still were free to rove. XXII. Through Calpe's straits survey the steepy shore; Lands of the dark-ey'd Maid and dusky Moor From mountain-cliff to coast descending sombre down. XXIII. "Tis night, when Meditation bids us feel Death hath but little left him to destroy! Ah! happy years! once more who would not be a boy?.. XXIV. Thus bending o'er the vessel's laving side, A thought, and claims the homage of a tear; XXV. To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell, Where things that own not man's dominion dwell, This is not solitude; 'tis but to hold Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unroll'd. XXVI. But midst the crowd, the hum, the shock of men, To hear, to see, to feel, and to possess, And roam along, the world's tir'd denizen, With none who bless us, none whom we can bless; Minions of splendour shrinking from distress! None that, with kindred consciousness endued, If we were not, would seem to smile the less Of all that flatter'd, follow'd, sought and sued; This is to be alone; this, this is solitude! XXVII. More blest the life of godly Eremite, |