15
But now the storm has hush'd its ire,
The warring elements retire;
And from his curtains, dusk and dun
Look'd forth, once more, th' astonish'd sun.
What saw he there? Young Nature's face
With smiles, and joy, and beauty fair?
No! not one feature could he trace
To tell him life was ever there;
Save when that little bark was seen
To shew him where her pride had been.
But now from that secure abode
A winged stranger went,
And from the casement open'd wide
A joyful flight she bent;
High mounting seem'd to seek the sky
With forward breast, and sparkling eye,
Like captive set at liberty.
So went the dove on errand kind,
To seek a mansion for mankind,
Tho' scarce her meek eye dar'd to trace
The horrors of that dreadful place.
The waves with white and curling head
Swept above the silent dead,
The heaving billows' dashing surge
Hoarsely swell'd the hollow dirge;
