Page:Poems by William Wordsworth (1815) Volume 1.djvu/145

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Having described her own Situation with her Husband, serving in America during the War, she proceeds,

perished—all, in one remorseless year,

Husband and Children! one by one, by sword

And ravenous plague, all perished: every tear

Dried up, despairing, desolate, on board

A British ship I waked, as from a trance restored.

Peaceful as some immeasurable plain

By the first beams of dawning light imprest,

In the calm sunshine slept the glittering main.

The very ocean has its hour of rest.

I too was calm, though heavily distrest!

Oh me, how quiet sky and ocean were!

My heart was hushed within me, I was blest,

And looked, and looked along the silent air,

Until it seemed to bring a joy to my despair.