Poems by Samuel Rogers Part 17

Clung to the shatter'd oar mid wrecks of flame!

--Was it for this I linger'd life away, The scorn of Folly, and of Fraud the prey; [f]

Bow'd down my mind, the gift His bounty gave, At courts a suitor, and to slaves a slave?

--Yet in His name whom only we should fear, ('Tis all, all I shall ask, or you shall hear) Grant but three days"--He spoke not uninspir'd; [Footnote 6]

And each in silence to his watch retir'd.

At length among us came an unknown Voice!

"Go, if ye will; and, if ye can, rejoice.

Go, with unbidden guests the banquet share.

In his own shape shall Death receive you there." [Footnote 7]

[Footnote 1: A species of bat in S. America; which refreshes by the gentle agitation of its wings, while it sucks the blood of the sleeper, turning his sleep into death. Ulloa.]

[Footnote 2: Euripides in Alcest. v. 255.]

[Footnote 3: Ps. civ. 3.]

[Footnote 4: The same language had been addressed to Isabella.

F..Cpl. c 15.]

[Footnote 5: His miraculous escape, in early life, during a sea-fight off the coast of Portugal. Ibid. c. 5.]

[Footnote 6: He used to affirm, that he stood in need of G.o.d's particular a.s.sistance; like Moses, when he led forth the people of Israel, who forbore to lay violent hands upon him, because of the miracles which G.o.d wrought by his means. 'So,' said the Admiral, 'did it happen to me on that voyage.' F. Columbus, c. 19.----' And so easily,' says a Commentator, 'are the workings of the Evil one overcome by the power of G.o.d!']

[Footnote 7: This denunciation, fulfilled as it appears to be in the eleventh canto, may remind the reader of the Harpy's in Virgil.

aen. III v. 247.]

CANTO VIII.

Land discovered.

Twice in the zenith blaz'd the orb of light; No shade, all sun, insufferably bright!

Then the long line found rest [Footnote 1]--in coral groves Silent and dark, where the sea-lion roves:-- And all on deck, kindling to life again, Sent forth their anxious spirits o'er the main.

"Oh whence, as wafted from Elysium, whence These perfumes, strangers to the raptur'd sense?

These boughs of gold, and fruits of heav'nly hue, Tinging with vermeil light the billows blue?

And (thrice, thrice blessed is the eye that spied, The hand that s.n.a.t.c.h'd it sparkling in the tide) [g]

Whose cunning carv'd this vegetable bowl, Symbol of social rites, and intercourse of soul?"

Such to their grateful ear the gush of springs, Who course the ostrich, as away she wings; Sons of the desert! who delight to dwell Mid kneeling camels round the sacred well.

The sails were furl'd: [Footnote 2] with many a melting close, Solemn and slow the evening anthem rose, Rose to the Virgin. [h] 'Twas the hour of day, When setting suns o'er summer-seas display A path of glory, opening in the west To golden climes, and islands of the blest; And human voices, on the silent air, Went o'er the waves in songs of gladness there!

Chosen of Men! [i] 'twas thine, at noon of night, First from the prow to hail the glimmering light; [Footnote 3]

(Emblem of Truth divine, whose secret ray Enters the soul, and makes the darkness day!) "PEDRO! RODRIGO! [Footnote 4] there, methought, it shone!

There--in the west! and now, alas, 'tis gone!-- 'Twas all a dream! we gaze and gaze in vain!

--But mark and speak not, there it comes again!

It moves!--what form unseen, what being there With torch-like l.u.s.tre fires the murky air?

His instincts, pa.s.sions, say, how like our own?

Oh! when will day reveal a world unknown?"

[Footnote 1: For thirty-five days they were advancing 'where fathom-line could never touch the ground.']

[Footnote 2: On Thursday, the 11th of October, 1492.]

[Footnote 3: A light in the midst of darkness, signifying the spiritual light that he came to spread there. F. Col. c. 22.

Herrera, I i 12.]

[Footnote 4: Pedro Gutierrez, a Page of the King's Chamber. Rodrigo Sanchez of Segovia, Comptroller of the Fleet.]

CANTO IX.

The New World.

Long on the wave the morning mists repos'd, Then broke--and, melting into light, disclos'd Half-circling hills, whose everlasting woods Sweep with their sable skirts the shadowy floods.

--And say, when all, to holy transport giv'n, Embraced and wept as at the gates of Heav'nly, When one and all of us, repentant, ran, And, on our faces, bless' the wondrous Man; Say, was I then deceiv'd, or from the skies Burst on my ear seraphic harmonies?

"Glory to G.o.d!" unnumber'd voices sung, "Glory to G.o.d!" the vales and mountains rung, Voices that hail' Creation's primal morn, And to the shepherds sung a Saviour born.

Slowly to land the sacred cross we bore, [k]

And, kneeling, kiss'd with pious lips the sh.o.r.e.

But how the scene pour tray? [l] Nymphs of romance, [m] Youths graceful as the Faun, [n] with rapturous glance, Spring from the glades, and down the green steeps run, To greet their mighty guests, "The children of the Sun!"

Features so fair, in garments richly wrought, From citadels, with Heav'n's own thunder fraught, Check'd their light footsteps--statue-like they stood, As wors.h.i.+pp'd forms, the Genii of the Wood!

But see, the regal plumes, the couch of state! [o]

Still, where it moves, the wise in council wait!

See now borne forth the monstrous mask of gold, [Footnote 1]

And ebon chair [also Footnote 1] of many a serpent-fold; These now exchang'd for gifts that thrice surpa.s.s The wondrous ring, and lamp, and horse of bra.s.s. [p]

What long-drawn tube transports the gazer home, [Footnote 2]

Kindling with stars at noon the ethereal dome?

'Tis here: and here circles of solid light [Footnote 1 again]

Charm with another self the cheated sight; As man to man another self disclose, That now with terror starts, with triumph glows!

[Footnote 1: F. Columbus, c. 28 34. & 69.]

[Footnote 2: For the effects of the telescope, and the mirror, on an uncultivated mind, see Wallis's Voyage round the World, c. 2 & 6.]

CANTO X.

Cora--luxuriant vegetation--the Humming-bird--the Fountain of Youth.

--Then CORA came, the youngest of her race, And in her hands she hid her lovely face; Yet oft by stealth a timid glance she cast, And now with playful step the Mirror pa.s.s'd, Each bright reflection brighter than the last!

And oft behind it flew, and oft before; The more she search'd, pleas'd and perplex'd the more!

And look'd and laugh'd, and blush'd with quick surprize; Her lips all mirth, all ecstasy her eyes!

But soon the telescope attracts her view; And lo, her lover in his light canoe Rocking, at noon-tide, on the silent sea, Before her lies! It cannot, cannot be.

Late as he left the sh.o.r.e, she linger'd there, Till, less and less, he melted into air!-- Sigh after sigh steals from her gentle frame, And say--that murmur--was it not his name?

She turns, and thinks; and, lost in wild amaze, Gazes again, and could for ever gaze!

Nor can thy flute, ALONSO, now excite, As in VALENCIA, when, with fond delight, FRANCISCA, waking, to the lattice flew, So soon to love and to be wretched too!

Hers thro' a convent-grate to send her last adieu.

--Yet who now comes uncall'd; and round and round, And near and nearer flutters to its sound; Then stirs not, breathes not--on enchanted ground?

Who now lets fall the flowers she cull'd to wear When he, who promis'd, should at eve be there; And faintly smiles, and hangs her head aside The tear that glistens on her cheek to hide?

Ah, who but CORA?--till inspir'd, possess'd, At once she springs, and clasps it to her breast!

Soon from the bay the mingling croud ascends, Kindred first met! by sacred instinct Friends!

Thro' citron groves, and fields of yellow maize, [Footnote 1]

Thro' plantain-walks where not a sun-beam plays.

Here blue savannas fade into the sky.

There forests frown in midnight majesty; Ceiba, [q] and Indian fig, and plane sublime, Nature's first-born, and reverenc'd by Time!