ON falconer's shipwreck. 163 



" Oh yet in clouds, thou genial source of light, 

 Conceal thy radiant glories." 



Homer's picture of the stars, with a solitary shep- 

 herd gazing on them, cannot be too much admired ; 

 Falconer approaches an imitation of this in two in-^ 

 stances. The ship ghding along the shore of Candia, 



"Majestically slow before the breeze/' 

 presents too beautiful an object to remain without 

 admirers : accordingly we have the Candiotes lining 

 the beach to look on her and 



" Hear the shrill whistle which doth order give 

 To sounds confused." 



The other is a darker scene, the officers meet in 

 consultation by night in the vessel's cabin. Pale- 

 mon, says the poet, looked on in fear ; as when a 

 swain has discovered the midnight conclave of 

 wizards, 



" Trembling approached their incantations fell, 

 And chilled with horror heard the songs of hell." 



Of the use of metaphor one instance must suffice, 



" The impatient axe hung gleaming in his hands." 

 But the subject warns me to proceed : I shall not 

 follow the poet in his digressive range over 

 " The Isles of Greece, the Isles of Greece, 

 Where burning Sappho loved and sung." 



We must like him tear ourselves from these and 

 the haunts of the muses, to hold converse with the 

 spirits of the storm. 



In every change the sea is still beautiful ; beauti- 

 ful— 



*' By the moon's pale light, 

 With her long ray of glory that we mark 

 On the wild waves when all beside is dark." 



And beautiful no less in the midst of perils. 

 " Through the gloom of night 

 The glimmering watch tower casts a mournful light." 



What shall we say to these sketches, when the 

 half educated sailor is brought into contact with a 

 scholar, and a poet united — with George Crabbe ? 



To be eoncliided in om next. 



