From neighbouring shores to scourge disease and death: 'Tis ours on thine unerring laws to trust, With thee, great Lord! 'whatever is, is just.'' He said: and, with consenting reverence fraught, Saw distant objects with prophetic light Still in the yawning trough the vessel reels, And to the right and left by turns inclined; And on the prow its double efforts threw. Both stay-sail sheets to mid-ships were convey'd, Away there! lower the mizzen-yard on deck,” He calls, "and brace the foremost yards aback!” His great example every bosom fires, New life rekindles and new hope inspires. While to the helm unfaithful still she lies, One desperate remedy at last he tries "Haste! with your weapons cut the shrouds and stay, And hew at once the mizzen-mast away!" He said: to cut the girding stay they run, Soon on each side the sever'd shrouds are gone: Deep gash'd beneath, the tottering structure rings, And crashing, thundering, o'er the quarter swings: Thus, when some limb, convulsed with pangs of death, Imbibes the gangrene's pestilential breath, The experienced artist from the blood betrays |