Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/671

 The rock shone bright, the kirk no less That stands above the rock: The moonlight steep'd in silentness The steady weathercock.

And the bay was white with silent light Till rising from the same, Full many shapes, that shadows were, In crimson colours came.

A little distance from the prow Those crimson shadows were: I turn'd my eyes upon the deck— O Christ! what saw I there!

Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat, And, by the holy rood! A man all light, a seraph-man, On every corse there stood.

This seraph-band, each waved his hand: It was a heavenly sight! They stood as signals to the land, Each one a lovely light;

This seraph-band, each waved his hand, No voice did they impart— No voice; but O, the silence sank Like music on my heart.

But soon I heard the dash of oars, I heard the Pilot's cheer; My head was turn'd perforce away, And I saw a boat appear.