THE CAST-AWAY SHIP. Montgomery. The subjects of the two following Poems were suggested by the loss of the Blenheim, commanded by Sir Thomas Trowbridge, which was separated from the vessels under its convoy, during a storm in the Indian Ocean.The Admiral's son afterwards made a voyage, without success, in search of his father.-Trowbridge was one of Nelson's captains at the battle of the Nile, but his ship unfortunately ran a-ground as he was bearing down on the enemy. A VESSEL sail'd from Albion's shore, It's crest a hero's pendant bore, With broad sea laurels crown'd. A gay and gallant company, With that exulting ship to sea, The deep, that, like a cradled child, In breathing slumber lay, More warmly blush'd, more sweetly smiled, As rose the kindling day; Through ocean's mirror, dark and clear, In morning's rich array; The land is lost, the waters glow, Majestic o'er the sparkling tide, With swelling wings, in shadowy pride, When, lessening through the flood of light, Oft had she hail'd its trophied prow, Victorious from the war, And banner'd masts that would not bow, Oft had her oaks their tribute brought, But late her evil star Had cursed it on its homeward way, Thus warn'd, Britannia's anxious heart A fair ill-omen'd show! So views the mother, through her tears, The daughter of her hopes and fears, When hectic beauties glow On the frail cheek, where sweetly bloom The roses of an early tomb. No fears the brave adventurers knew, His lightnings on the billowy field; But not to crush the vaunting foe, In mortal triumph slain, Was their unutterable fate; The song might rise in vain; In Ocean's deepest, darkest bed, On India's long-expecting strand This sole memorial of their lot Remains, they were, and they are not. The Spirit of the Cape* pursued Like shooting stars athwart the gloom By winds and floods, now seen, now lost; A dimmer flash, a fainter roar; -At length they saw, they heard no more. There are to whom that ship was dear, When these the voice of Rumour hear, Shall doubt, and fear, and wish, and grieve, But never cease to ache; Still doom'd, in sad suspense, to bear The hope that keeps alive despair. The Cape of Good Hope, formerly called the Cape of Storms.-See Camoens' Lusiad, Book V. THE SEQUEL. He sought his sire from shore to shore, The prow he track'd was seen no more, Deep, deep beneath the rolling main: Son of the brave! no longer weep; DON JUAN AND HAIDEE, THE LADY OF THE CAVE. THEN was the cordial pour'd, and mantle flung And her transparent cheek, ,all pure and warm Byron. |