SHARK. 
223 
most dear to the unfortunate young man, comes to 
the shore to welcome his arrival. 
Soon as the well known ship she spy’d 
She cast her weeds away ; 
And to tire palmy shore she hied. 
All in her best array. 
In sea green silk so neatly clad. 
She there impatient stood ; 
The crew with wonder saw the lad 
Repel the foaming flood. 
Her hands a handkerchief display’d 
Which he at parting gave ; 
Well pleas’d the token he survey’d. 
And manlier beat the wave. 
Her fair companions one and all 
Rejoicing crowd the strand j 
For now her lover swam in call. 
And almost touch’d the land. 
Then through the white surf did she haste. 
To clasp her lovely swain ; 
When, ah ! a shark bit through his waist: 
His heart’s blood dy’d the main ! 
He shriek’d ! his half sprang from the wave. 
Streaming with purple gore 5 
And soon it found a living grave. 
And, ah ! was seen no more. 
Now haste, now haste, ye maids, I pray, 
Fetch water from the spring : 
She falls, she swoons, she dies away. 
And soon her knell they ring. 
Now each May-morning round her tomb. 
Ye fair, fresh flowrets strew; 
So may your lovers scape his doom. 
Her hapless fate scape you ! 
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