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Still o'er the heavens reflected splendours flow, 

 Which make the world of waters gleam and glow : 

 Wide and more wide each billow shines more bright, 

 Till all the empurpled ocean floats in light. 

 Soon as fair Irza marked the evening's close, 

 Grave from her seat the young enthusiast rose, 

 Told o'er her beads, and when the string was said, 

 " Ave Maria ! " sang the enraptured maid ; 

 Her look so humble, so devout her air, 

 Each worldly wish appeared so lost in prayer, 

 All felt, no thought could to her mind be near, 

 That man her form could see, her voice could hear : 

 Hushed all the ship ! — Each sailor checked his glee, 

 Clasped his hard hands, and bent his trembling knee ; 

 And each (as rose that soft mysterious strain, 

 Best help in trouble, and sweet balm in pain) 

 Gazed on the maid with mingled awe and fear, 

 Damp on his cheek perceived the unwonted tear, 

 Then raised to Heaven his eyes in earnest prayer, 

 And half believed himself already there. 

 Low too Rosalvo knelt, nor knew, if now 

 For Mary's grace, or Irza's, rose his vow. 

 Scarce e'en the monk forbore to kneel ; his child 

 Fondly he viewed, and sweetly, gravely smiled, 

 And blessed that God, as swelled each melting note, 

 Who gave such heavenly powers to human throat ! 



Melodious strains, oh ! speed your flight above 

 On Neptune's wings, and reach the ear of Love ! 

 Oh ! spread thy starry robe, celestial queen, 

 (For much thine aid she needs !) from ills to screen 

 Thy virgin-votaress ! — Silence holds the deep, 

 And e'en the helmsman's eyes are sealed by sleep : 

 Yet mark yon gathering clouds ! — the moon is fled ! — 

 Mark too that deathlike stillness, deep and dread ! 

 And hark ! — from yon black cloud an awful voice 

 Pours the wild chaunt, and bids the winds rejoice ! 



