240 ORATIONS AND IMPASSIONED PIECES. 



But* ah ! no earthly ship could last, 



In a storm so fierce as this ; 

 And now she is toss'd a mountain's height, 



Now sunk in the dark abyss. 

 At length was heard the dreadful sound 



Of life's departing cry : 

 Anotherf shriek a horrid one 

 A loud, appalling, lengthen' d groan 



Proclaim'd DEATH'S VICTORY ! 



OhJ Heavens ! it was a fearful sight 



That broke on the view with the morning light, 



For all around the shore was spread 



With the clay-cold bodies of the dead: 



And where was the prince ? Alas ! he lay 



In the depths of the ocean cave ; 

 No dirge was sung no death-knell rung, 



Above his lowly grave ; 



Yet the blue sea's daughters around him wept, 

 And murmur' d a requiem as he slept; 



While many a nymph, from her coral bed, 

 A pearly mantle o'er him spread, 

 And placed on his brow a diadem 

 Of jewel rare and costly gem, 

 Such as a prince (however great) 

 Might proudly wear in regal state. 



One, only one, escaped the storm, 



And he was left to bring 

 The maddening tale the tale of death, 



Unto the childless king. 

 Alas ! it was a mournful thing, 



Such sad intelligence to tell ! 

 To say his child was lost, dead, drown' d, 



Nor lay his bones in hallow'd ground ! 

 To tell him that his age's prop, 



His kingdom's heir had pass'd away, 



* Increased solemnity, approaching to f/iorror. 

 J Most solemn description, requiring a mournful tone, occasionally 

 varying in intensity. 



