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LAKE LEMAN.

207

But that is fancy-for the starlight dews
All silently their tears of love instil,

Weeping themselves away, till they infuse
Deep into Nature's breast the spirit of her hues.

The sky is changed!-and such a change! O night, And storm, and darkness, ye are wondrous strong, Yet lovely in your strength, as is the light Of a dark eye in woman! Far along, From peak to peak, the rattling crags among, Leaps the live thunder! Not from one lone cloud, But every mountain now hath found a tongue, And Jura answers, through her misty shroud, Back to the joyous Alps, who call to her aloud!

And this is in the night :-Most glorious night!
Thou wert not sent for slumber! let me be
A sharer in thy fierce and far delight,-
A portion of the tempest and of thee!
How the lit lake shines, a phosphoric sea,
And the big rain comes dancing to the earth!
And now 'tis black,—and now the glee

Of the loud hills shakes with its mountain mirth, As if they did rejoice o'er a young earthquake's birth.

BYRON.

THE SONG OF THE MARINER.

A WET sheet and a flowing sea,
A wind that follows fast,

And fills the white and rustling sail,
And bends the gallant mast;
And bends the gallant mast, my boys,
While, like the eagle free,
Away the good ship flies, and leaves
Old England on the lee.

"O for a soft and gentle wind!"
I heard a fair one cry;

But give to me the snoring breeze
And white waves heaving high;
And white waves heaving high, my boys,
The good ship tight and free-
The world of waters is our home,

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There's tempest in yon hornèd moon,
And lightning in yon cloud;
And hark the music, mariners,—

The wind is piping loud;

The wind is piping loud, my boys,

The lightning flashing free— While the hollow oak our palace is,

Our heritage the sea!

CUNNINGHAM.

BATTLE OF THE BALTIC.

OF Nelson and the North
Sing the glorious day's renown,
When to battle fierce came forth

All the might of Denmark's crown,

And her arms along the deep proudly shone; By each gun the lighted brand,

In a bold determined hand;

And the prince of all the land
Led them on.

Like leviathans afloat,

Lay their bulwarks on the brine;
While the sign of battle flew

On the lofty British line;

It was ten of April morn by the chime:

As they drifted on their path,

There was silence deep as death,
And the boldest held his breath,
For a time.

But the might of England flush'd
To anticipate the scene;

And her van the fleeter rush'd

Oer the deadly space between.

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"Hearts of oak," our captains cried! when each gun From its adamantine lips

Spread a death-shade round the ships,

Like the hurricane eclipse

Of the sun.

Again! again! again!

And the havock did not slack,

Till a feeble cheer the Dane

To our cheering sent us back ;

Their shots along the deep slowly boom :—
Then ceased-and all is wail,

As they strike the shatter'd sail;

Or, in conflagration pale,

Light the gloom.

Out spoke the victor then,

As he hail'd them o'er the wave,
"Ye are brothers! ye are men!
And we conquer but to save :—
So peace instead of death let us bring:
But yield, proud foe, thy fleet,

With the crews, at England's feet,
And make submission meet

To our King."

Then Denmark bless'd our chief,
That he gave her wounds repose ;—
And the sounds of joy and grief,
From her people wildly rose ;—

BATTLE OF THE BALTIC.

As Death withdrew his shades from the day;

While the sun look'd smiling bright

O'er a wide and woeful sight,

Where the fires of funeral light

Died away!

Now joy, old England, raise !
For the tidings of thy might,
By the festal cities' blaze,

While the wine-cup shines in light;
And yet amid that joy and uproar,
Let us think of them that sleep
Full many a fathom deep,
By thy wild and stormy steep,
Elsinore !

Brave hearts! to Britain's pride
Once so faithful and so true,
On the deck of fame that died,

With the gallant good Riou!

Soft sigh the winds of Heaven o'er their grave!
While the billow mournful rolls,

And the mermaid's song condoles,
Singing glory to the souls

Of the brave!

CAMPBELL.

211

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