II.
With eagle flights all may not soar,
Nor bask in fields of richest lore,
Yet, poesy a balm should pour
O'er worldly woes.
III.
Essence divine! leal hearts will sing
Though baser souls mean offerings bring;
True anthems o'er the false shall ring
Eternally.
TO THE OCEAN.
Mirror of might and of splendor!
Type of immensity! Smiling in face of the upper blue;
Beautiful! crystal Sea! Yet, under thy brilliant beaming,
As chills at the heart of love When a smile o'er-gilds the placid face,
Cold under-currents move.
Over thy glistering waters,
Out of the purple haze, Thrilleth the chords of memory
With touch of other days. Once more, by thy rim, bright Ocean!
A youthful, happy band We course along the yellow sands
Afar, in fair Scotland.
Once more we plash our childish feet
Amid thy shining waves; Or shelter from the sudden gust
Within thy border caves. Ho! voices of the summer sea!
Ho! voices sweet and low! Ye mournful chant their requiem,
Those days of long ago.
He sailed upon thy whitened crest,
The choicest of our band; Thy seething surges wail his dirge
On far New Holland strand. That other sleeps—we know not where,
Who early braved thy tide;— Sing wavelets! we shall meet at length
Upon that further side.