411 



A STORM.* 



Ipse Pater, media nimborum in node, corusca 

 Fulmlnu molitur dextra .- quo maxima motu 

 Terra tremit ; fugere fera ; et morialiu corda 

 Per gentes humilis stravit pnvor. 



Virgil, Georgic I. 



Now the sun with his steeds, that no mortal may tame, 

 In his chariot descending, and rob'd in bright flame, 

 O'er the west shed a radiance, when suddenly grew 

 A blackness in air, that a gloom around threw. 

 Oppressive, hot stillness, an ominous sign, 

 With fear that astounds, seem'd in league to combine. 

 With clouds, dark, portentous, deep stain'd was the 



sky; 

 The sea-winds rose suddenly howling on high : 

 The sea, black and stormy, with white foam boil'd o'er; 

 Ships, torn from their moorings, were toss'd on the 



shore : 

 The wild curling breakers, like wolves, fierce and 



strong, 

 Ran yelling and dashing in fury along : 

 Round the mountainous rocks numerous sea-birds 



scream'd loud, 

 As they, terror-struck, flew in a dark wavy cloud : 



* For some of the thoughts in this Poem the author is indebted 

 to Hall's South America: see vol. ii. page 317. 



T2 



