II. There's in our minds an overpowering sense Of grandeur, as we view the sea, that far Exceeds in depth those feelings, though intense, With which we contemplate the brightest star That heralds Cynthia in her full orb'd car. The sea, coeval with the eternal past, While element with element waged war, Ere yet the pillars of the earth stood fast, Roll'd o'er the dark abyss immeasurably vast. III. Then light through darkness shot its vivid ray, The God of gladness brighten'd hill and grove, While yet it bluster'd through unmeasured space, Gloried within its bounds to feel the sun's embrace! IV. A varied mass of congregated cloud, Purple and blue and red, the horizon round Floats o'er the waters, seemingly to shroud Some fairy isle where beauteous fruits abound; Where hills uprise by golden castles crown'd; Whence elfin knights come forth in proud attire, And lovely fays, whose feet scarce touch the ground: But soon these beings of the brain expire, When the disparting clouds unveil a sea of fire. V. The sun is sinking fast, and now is gone The vaporous enchantment; the wide main Reflects from clouds pavilioning the throne Of light, that still most beautiful remain, An orange hue, which to depict 'twere vain ! These are faint shadows of those glorious sights Which we shall see when, free from grief and pain, We traverse planets where unbodied sprites For ever will enjoy ineffable delights. VI. The bard* of Asti view'd the sea, and wept, Its might; as yet his sun-like genius slept, Blazed in his verse, and still the sons of freedom cheers. * ALFIERI. When this great poet first saw the sea, he could not describe the emotions which the sight of it excited in him, and therefore he gave vent to his feelings in tears. P VII. Home of the brave and free-for such thou art, Refresh'd, COLOMBIA wakes to life, and braves VIII. O'ershadow'd by monopoly's dark wings, From her horn bursting with its fulness o'er; IX. Thou vasty deep! what treasures lie conceal'd But they, beheld, must disappear, and melt Of mighty waters shall be seen or felt : No vestige will remain of lands where man hath dwelt. X. And shall this ocean that compared might be (If aught the perishable world can have Liken'd unto it,) with eternity, Be lost at once as is a single wave That breaks upon the beach ?-this greedy grave Το gorge its victims while fierce tempests rave? He can perform-build worlds, destroy them, if he please. XI. Heaven, Earth, and Ocean perish; but the soul Burning for knowledge, where new planets roll XII. What other worlds interfluent among, Oceans may swell and roar, 'tis vain to think. Of a vast precipice; we well might shrink Of thought is broken by conjecture's breath, |