CLASSICAL MODERN POETRY. 155 



SEA-SIDE THOUGHTS. 



Beautiful, sublime, and glorious, 



Mild, majestic, foaming, free ; 

 Over time itself victorious ; 



Image of Eternity. 



Sun, and moon, and stars, shine o'er thee. 



See thy surface ebb and flow, 

 Yet attempt not to explore thee 



In thy soundless depths below. 



Whether morning's splendours steep thee 

 With the rainbow's glowing grace ; 



Tempests rouse, or navies sweep thee, 

 Tis but for a moment's space. 



Earth her valleys, and her mountains, 



Mortal man's behest obey : 

 Thy unfathomable fountains 



Scoff his search and scorn his sway. 



Such art thou, stupendous ocean ! 



But if overwhelm'd by thee, 

 Can we think, without emotion, 



What must thy Creator be t 



BARTON. 



THE SHIP AT SEA. 



A white sail gleaming on the flood, 

 And the bright brb'd sun on high, 



Are all that break the solitude 

 Of the circling sea and sky ; 



Nor cloud nor cape is imaged there, 



Nor isle of ocean, nor of air. 



Led by the magnet o'er the tides, 

 That bark her path explores j 



Sure as unerring instinct guides 

 The birds to unseen shores. 



With wings, that o'er the waves expand, 



She wanders to a viewless land. 



