Page:Moral Pieces in Prose and Verse.pdf/27

 But now the storm has hush'd its ire, The warring elements retire; And from his curtains, dusk and dun Look'd forth, once more, th' astonish'd sun.

What saw he there? Young Nature's face With smiles, and joy, and beauty fair? No! not one feature could he trace To tell him life was ever there; Save when that little bark was seen To shew him where her pride had been.

But now from that secure abode A winged stranger went, And from the casement open'd wide A joyful flight she bent; High mounting seem'd to seek the sky With forward breast, and sparkling eye, Like captive set at liberty.

So went the dove on errand kind, To seek a mansion for mankind, Tho' scarce her meek eye dar'd to trace The horrors of that dreadful place.

The waves with white and curling head Swept above the silent dead, The heaving billows' dashing surge Hoarsely swell'd the hollow dirge;