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:
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.
Till Sympathy from brooding Memory's storesCulls thorns, and plants them in the bleeding breast;Sunk into gloom the mind no more exploresHope'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.
"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.
"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."
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.
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.
Errata