The shipwreck

by William Falconer

CANTO III.

I. When in a barbarous age, with blood defil’d,

The human savage roamed the gloomy wild;

When sullen Ignorance her flag displayed,

And Rapine, and Revenge her voice obeyed;

Sent from the shores of light the Muses came

The dark and solitary race to tame,

The war of lawless passions to controul,

To melt in tender sympathy the soul;