POETRY. 717 



And every comfort men at Sea can know, 

 Was her's to buy, to make, and to bestow : 

 For he to Greenland sail'd, and much she told, 

 How he should guard against the climate's cold ; 

 Yet saw not danger : dangers he'd withstood. 

 Nor could she trace the Fever in his blood : 

 His messmates smiled at flushings in his cheek, 

 And he too smil'd, but seldom would he speak ; 

 For now he found the danger, felt the pain. 

 With grievous symptoms he could not explain ; 

 Hope was awaken'd, as for home he sail'd. 

 But quickly sank, and never more prevail'd. 



He call'd his Friend, and p^efac'd with a sigh 

 A Lover's message — " Thomas, I must die : 

 " Would I could see my Sally, and could rest 

 " My throbbing temples on her faithful breast, 

 ♦• And gazing go 1 — if not this trifle take, 

 " And say, 'till death I wore it for her sake : 

 " Yes ; I must die — blow on, sweet breeze, blow on ! 

 " Give me one look, before my life be gone, 

 " O ! give me that, and let me not despair, 

 " One last fond look — and now repeat the prayer." 



He had his wish — had more ; I will not paint 

 The Lover's meeting : — she beheld him faint,— 

 With tender fears she took a nearer view. 

 Her terrors doubling as her hopes withdrew ; 

 He tried to smile, and, half succeeding, said, 

 " Yes ! I must die," and hope for ever fled. 



Still long she nursed him ; tender thoughts mean time 

 Were interchang'd, and hopes and views sublime. 

 To her he came to die, and every day 

 She took some portion of the dread away ; 

 With him she pray'd, to him his Bible read, 

 Sooth'd the faint heart, and held the aching head ; 

 She came with smiles the hour of pain to cheer. 

 Apart she sigh'd ; alone she shed the tear ; 

 Then, as if breaking from a cloud, she gave 

 Fresh light, and gilt the prospect of the grave. 



One day he lighter seem'd, and they forgot, 

 The care, the dread, the anguish of their lot ; 

 They spoke with cheerfulness, and seem'd to think, 

 Yet said not so — " perhaps he will not sink." 

 A sudden brightness in his look appear'd, 

 A sudden vigour in his voice was heard ; — 



