“O father! I see a gleaming light ; Oh, say, what may it be?" But the father answered never a word, 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 wave On the Lake of Galilee. And fast through the midnight dark and drear, And ever the fitful gusts between A sound came from the land; The breakers were right beneath her bows, And a whooping billow swept the crew She struck where the white and fleecy waves Looked soft as carded wool; But the cruel rocks, they gored her side Her rattling shrouds, all sheathed in ice, At daybreak, on the bleak sea-beach To see the form of a maiden fair Lashed close to a drifting mast. The salt sea was frozen on her breast, And he saw her hair, like the brown sea-weed, Such was the wreck of the Hesperus, Christ save us all from a death like this, EARLIER POEMS. THESE Poems were written for the most part during my college-life, and Some have found their way all of them before the age of nineteen. into schools, and seem to be successful. precarious existence in the corners of newspapers; or have changed their names, and run away to seek their fortunes beyond the sea. I say with the Bishop of Avranches, on a similar occasion, "I cannot be displeased to see these children of mine, which I have neglected, and almost exposed, brought from their wanderings in lanes and alleys, and safely lodged, in order to go forth into the world together in a more decorous garb." EARLIER POEMS. AN APRIL DAY. WHEN the warm sun, that brings Seed-time and harvest, has returned again, I love the season well, When forest-glades are teeming with bright forms, Nor dark and many-folded clouds foretell The coming-on of storms. From the earth's loosened mould The sapling draws its sustenance, and thrives; The softly-warbled song Comes from the pleasant woods, and coloured wings Glance quick in the bright sun, that moves along The forest-openings. |