The world’s literature in all the ages has much to say about the mystery and the wonder and the power of the sea. In ancient days Homer made frequent use of the expression, “the loud resounding sea,” and, in modern times, Byron apostrophizes the unconquerable ocean and seems glad to think that while
“Man marks the earth with ruin;
His control stops with the shore.”
But here, as elsewhere, the language of writers who have the Theistic view of things strongly developed is supreme for its vividness and power. Thus we find the Psalmist saying, “They that go down to the sea in ships and do business in great waters, these behold the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep.” No finer reflection of that saying has been seen in our day than the verses,
“There’s a schooner in the offing
And her topsail’s shot with fire
And my soul has gone aboard her
For the Isle of my desire.
“I must forth again at midnight,
And to-morrow I shall be