THE PEARL OYSTER. 929 



Thou hast looked on the gleaming wealth of old, 

 And wrecks where the brave have striven : 



The deep is a strong and fearful hold, 

 But thou its bar hast riven. 



A wild and weaiy life is thine 



A wasting task and lone, 

 Though treasure-grots for thee may shine, 



To all besides unknown ! 



A weary life ! but a swift decay 



Soon, soon shall set thee free ; 

 Thou'rt passing fast from thy toils away, 



Thou wrestler with the sea ! 



In thy dim eye, on thy hollow cheek, 



Well are the death-signs read- 

 Go ! for the pearl in its cavern seek, 



Ere hope and power be fled ! 



And bright in beauty's coronal 



That glistening gem shall be ; 

 A star to all in the festive hall- 



But who will think on thee ? 



None ! as it gleams from the queen-like head, 



Not one 'midst throngs will say, 

 ' A life hath been, like a raindrop, shed 

 For that pale quivering ray ! ' 



Woe for the wealth thus dearly bought ! 



And are not those like thee, 

 Who win for earth the gems of thought ? 



O wrestler with the sea ! " 



" Mr. Marshall, for many years surgeon to the forces at 

 Ceylon, states that he rarely knew the submersion of a 

 diver last longer than fifty seconds." 



This is about the time that the men in the Bay of 

 Naples, who dive for small molluscs, and the Greek islan- 

 ders of the Archipelago, who dive for sponges, remain 



under water. 



EE 



