Salmagundi (Huddesford, 1791)/Elegy. Written at Sea
ELEGY.
WRITTEN AT SEA.
On Sapphire throne, o'er Heav'n's unnumber'd fires,
The Moon in full-orb'd majesty presides;
Calm are the seas, a favouring breeze transpires,
And thro' the waves the vessel smoothly glides:
The Moon in full-orb'd majesty presides;
Calm are the seas, a favouring breeze transpires,
And thro' the waves the vessel smoothly glides:
Beyond th' horizon's bound the mind extends,
To the sought shores where Hope delusive leads:
Sooth'd by the scene her tortures grief suspends[errata 1]
For absent kindred, friends, and native meads.
To the sought shores where Hope delusive leads:
Sooth'd by the scene her tortures grief suspends[errata 1]
For absent kindred, friends, and native meads.
Till Sympathy from brooding Memory's stores
Culls thorns, and plants them in the bleeding breast;
Sunk into gloom the mind no more explores
Hope's future dawn, and pants in vain for rest.
Culls thorns, and plants them in the bleeding breast;
Sunk into gloom the mind no more explores
Hope's future dawn, and pants in vain for rest.
What tho' the seas are calm, the skies serene,
Thus anguish dictates the desponding strain:
"To friendship fear presents a gloomier scene,
"The whirlwind's fury and tempestuous main.
Thus anguish dictates the desponding strain:
"To friendship fear presents a gloomier scene,
"The whirlwind's fury and tempestuous main.
"Even now perhaps from many a kindred eye
"My dubious fate compels the generous[errata 2] tear,
"And ev'ry passing cloud that veils the sky
"Chills some fond anxious breast with boding fear.
"My dubious fate compels the generous[errata 2] tear,
"And ev'ry passing cloud that veils the sky
"Chills some fond anxious breast with boding fear.
"In my Love's bosom deeper sorrows roll,
"Frantic with dread she sighs, implores, she raves;
"Whilst Horror paints me, to her sickening soul,
"Dash'd on a rock, or whelm'd beneath the waves."
"Frantic with dread she sighs, implores, she raves;
"Whilst Horror paints me, to her sickening soul,
"Dash'd on a rock, or whelm'd beneath the waves."
Father of Heav'n, whose power controls the storms,
O let thy mercy hear a wanderer's pray'r!
Check the wild fears connubial fondness forms,
And save the tender Mourner from despair.
O let thy mercy hear a wanderer's pray'r!
Check the wild fears connubial fondness forms,
And save the tender Mourner from despair.
For Me, whate'er thy sov'reign will shall doom,
Still give me faith to bear that lot resign'd:
That Faith which, smiling, courts the dreary tomb,
And, Heav'n-aspiring, sooths th' afflicted mind.
Still give me faith to bear that lot resign'd:
That Faith which, smiling, courts the dreary tomb,
And, Heav'n-aspiring, sooths th' afflicted mind.
Errata