IV. The sky is blue, without a cloud, V. And the sea is calm-the ship seems fix'd Upon its waters blue; With gleaming sails and body dark, As if it were a painted bark, Without a living crew! VI. Deep down, in the silent under-world VII. And deep in the shadow of the rock, Drive on the sportive hours. VIII. A thousand little creatures wheel, In many a winding way; IX. How beautiful those creatures are! X. Ah! surely sorrow never dwells They sport away their little life, The sunny waves among. XI. In the pearly bark of the Nautilus The Ocean Fairy glides; Amid the cluster'd coral groves, That spread in the fathomless haunts she loves, Beneath the flowing tides. XII. With brighter gems than Earth e'er saw They deck their braided hair: Upon their necks and bosoms bright, Half hid, half stealing into sight, A sea green robe they wear. XIII. Oh! who may tell the loveliness Or the music that fills each Ocean hall, In the depths of the Summer sea! XIV. The fairest bird that sees the sky Floats on the Ocean waves; Are in her sounding caves! XV. O blue and bright and beautiful, And ever shouting Sea! I would that I could leave the land, And, lightly leaping from the strand, THE TRYSTING STONE. 4440 Beside the ruin'd chapel, in the dell, There stands an aged hawthorn, spreading wide Who dwelt within yon gray and mouldering walls But they are gone: their temples are cast down, Become the scorn and by-word of the world. Death hath slain Love in many a burning bosom ; To the fierce passion of their headlong youth; Most have sunk down into the apathy Which waits all early joys;—some have been faithless: I've a brief tale of such an one to tell. " Beneath yon little plot of darkest green 'Tis Ellen Beaumont's grave: she fixed her love. Its truthful music;-ah! well might she deem- So wed to base ambition-avarice And lust of power, that he did hold affection But as a minister to these desires. And so it was, that rising in the world (The busy world—whose cares like thorns do spring To choke the sweet and dewy flower of Love!) He did forget his plighted vows to Ellen. |