THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS Then downwards from the steep hill's edge And then an open field they crossed: They followed from the snowy bank Into the middle of the plank; And further there were none ! Yet some maintain that to this day That you may see sweet Lucy Gray O'er rough and smooth she trips along, And never looks behind; And sings a solitary song That whistles in the wind. William Wordsworth THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS It was the schooner Hesperus, That sailed the wintry sea; And the skipper had taken his little daughter, To bear him company. 19 Blue were her eyes as the fairy-flax, Her cheeks like the dawn of day, The skipper he stood beside the helm, And watched how the veering flaw did blow Then up and spake an old sailòr, Had sailed the Spanish Main, "I pray thee put into yonder port, For I fear a hurricane. "Last night the moon had a golden ring, Colder and louder blew the wind, And the billows frothed like yeast. Down came the storm, and smote amain The vessel in its strength; She shuddered and paused, like a frighted steed, Then leaped her cable's length. "Come hither! come hither! my little daughtèr, And do not tremble so ; THE WRECK OF THE HESPERUS For I can weather the roughest gale He wrapped her warm in his seaman's coat He cut a rope from a broken spar, "O father! I hear the church-bells ring, 0 say, what may it be?" ""Tis a fog-bell, on a rock-bound coast! And he steered for the open sea. "O father! I hear the sound of guns, "O father! I see a gleaming light, Lashed to the helm, all stiff and stark, The lantern gleamed through the gleaming snow On his fixed and glassy eyes. Then the maiden clasped her hands and prayed That saved she might be; And she thought of Christ, who stilled the waves On the Lake of Galilee. And fast through the midnight dark and drear, And ever the fitful gusts between The breakers were right beneath her bows, And a whooping billow swept the crew She struck where the white and fleecy waves But the cruel rocks, they gored her sides Her rattling shrouds, all sheathed in ice, At daybreak, on the bleak sea-beach The salt sea was frozen on her breast, The salt tears in her eyes; HYMN TO DIANA And he saw her hair, like the brown seaweed, Such was the wreck of the Hesperus, On the reef of Norman's Woe! Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. 23 HYMN TO DIANA QUEEN and Huntress, chaste and fair, Seated in thy silver chair State in wonted manner keep: Earth, let not thy envious shade Cynthia's shining orb was made Heaven to clear when day did close: Lay thy bow of pearl apart And thy crystal-shining quiver; Give unto the flying hart Space to breathe, how short soever : Thou that mak'st a day of night, Ben Jonson. |