358 THE CORAL ISLES. 
3. 
The Coralline Isles in the glittering sea 
At evening are glorious to muse upon, 
As Sol's last ray to lake and tree 
Imparts the hues of the topaz stone ; 
And the crested surge in triple row 
Bounds over the reel with deafening roar, 
And the vivid tints of the Covenant Bow 
With mosaic decks the blanched shore, 
And the man-of-war Hawk, and the Tropic Bird 
Speed homeward, rang'd in length' ning files ; 
For the cry of their callow brood is heard 
From their grassy beds on the Coral Isles. 
4. 
The Coralline Isles in the tremulous sea 
At midnight are lovely to look upon, 
As the moon from her zenith beams splendidly 
O'er the Parian strand, and the smooth lagoon. 
And he who adventures to sojourn there, 
Amid scenes so strange, so beautiful. 
Might fancy he breath' d enchanted air, 1 
Where gnomes preside and genii rule. 
For the man-of-war Hawk, and the Tropic Bird 
Seem petrified by magic wiles, 
And nought but the Tupa's click is heard, 
Whose myriads traverse the Coral Isles. 
5. 
The Coralline realms in the deep blue sea 
Are wonderful to gaze upon, 
For the latent powers of Deity 
Are there in rich profusion shown ; 
Parterres that storms can ne'er disturb, 
Nor winter's frigid hand undress ; 
Pillars and pyramids superb, 
And vestibules of palaces. 
Oh, let the ingrate atheist come ; 
See and confess a power Divine ; 
And then refer the clique at home 
To the gorgeous fane of the Coralline. G. H. N. 
(1) " I remember/ says the author of the Coral Isles, " passing anight 
on one of these islands. I 'became so captivated with the lovely scene 
that sleep did not approach my eyelids the whole of that night." 
