BEAUTY OF THE DOLPHIN. One in redoubling mazes wheels along, With parting beams all o'er profusely drest, Now beam a flaming crimson on the eye, And now assume the purple's deeper dye: 55 But here description clouds each shining ray, What terms of Art can Nature's powers display! The lighter Sails, for Summer winds and seas, Are now dismissed the straining masts to ease; Swift on the deck the stud-sails all descend, Which ready Seamen from the Yards unbend; The Boats then hoisted in are fixed on board, And on the Deck with fastening Gripes secured. The watchful ruler of the helm, no more With fixed attention eyes th' adjacent shore, But by the oracle of truth below, The wonderous Magnet, guides the wayward prow. As Clouds, by Tempests wafted, pass the Sun. Till Ida's mount, and Jove's, are seen no more; Wide o'er yon Isthmus stands the cypress Grove Here too, memorial of his name! is found For oft, alas! their venal Strains adorn The Prince, whom blushing Virtue holds in scorn: Still ROME and GREECE record his endless fame, yon But see! in confluence borne before the Blast, Clouds rolled on clouds the dusky Noon o'ercast: The blackening Ocean curls, the Winds arise, And the dark Scud in swift succession flies. While the swoln canvass bends the Masts on high, More distant grew receding CANDIA's shore, Four hours the Sun his high meridian throne A lowering Squall obscures the southern sky, Before whose sweeping breath the waters fly; Its weight the Top-sails can no more sustainReef Top-Sails, reef! the Master calls again. The halyards and top-bow-lines soon are gone, To clue-lines and reef-tackles next they run: The shivering Sails descend; the Yards are square; Then quick aloft the ready Crew repair: The weather-earings, and the lee, they past, The reefs enrolled, and every point made fast. Their Task above thus finished, they descend, And vigilant th' approaching Squall attend: . It comes resistless! and with foaming sweep Upturns the whitening surface of the Deep: In such a Tempest, borne to deeds of death, The Wayward Sisters scour the blasted heath. |