Perhaps kind Heaven, with interposing power,

May curb the Tempest ere that dreadful hour; "But here, ingulfed and foundering, while we stay, "Fate hovers o'er and marks us for her prey."

He said: PALEMON saw with grief of heart
The Storm prevailing o'er the Pilot's art;
In silent terror and distress involved,

He heard their last alternative resolved:
High beat his bosom---with such fear subdued,
Beneath the gloom of some enchanted wood,
Oft in old time the wandering Swain explored
The midnight Wizards, breathing rites abhorred;
Trembling, approached their incantations fell,

And, chilled with horror, heard the Songs of hell.
ARION Saw, with secret anguish moved,

The deep affliction of the friend he loved,
And all awake to Friendship's genial heat

His bosom felt consenting tremors beat:
Alas! no season this for tender love,
Far hence the music of the myrtle grove---
He tried with soft persuasion's melting lore
PALEMON'S fainting courage to restore;

His wounded Spirit healed with friendship's balm, And bade each conflict of the Mind be calm.

Now had the Pilots all th' events revolved, And on their final refuge thus resolved--When, like the faithful Shepherd who beholds Some prowling Wolf approach his fleecy folds, To the brave Crew, whom racking doubts perplex, The dreadful purpose ALBERT thus directs: "Unhappy partners in a wayward fate! "Whose courage now is known perhaps too late; "Ye! who unmoved behold this angry Storm "In conflict all the rolling Deep deform; "Who, patient in Adversity, still bear

"The firmest front when greatest ills are near; "The truth, though painful, I must now reveal, "That long in vain I purposed to conceal : "Ingulfed, all help of art we vainly try,

"To weather leeward Shores, alas! too nigh:

"Our crazy Bark no longer can abide

"The Seas, that thunder o'er her battered side; "And while the leaks a fatal warning give

"That in this raging Sea she cannot live,

"One only refuge from despair we find

"At once to wear and scud before the wind:

Perhaps e'en then to ruin we may steer,

"For rocky Shores beneath our lee appear;

"But that's remote, and instant Death is here: "Yet there, by Heaven's assistance, we may gain "Some creek or inlet of the Grecian main;

"Or, sheltered by some Rock, at anchor ride

"Till with abating rage the blast subside: "But if, determined by the will of Heaven, "Our helpless Bark at last ashore is driven, "These councils followed, from a watery grave "Our Crew perhaps amid the Surf may save :--"And first, let all our axes be secured

"To cut the Masts and Rigging from aboard; "Then to the Quarters bind each plank and oar "To float between the vessel and the shore: "The longest Cordage too must be conveyed "On deck, and to the weather-rails belayed: "So they, who haply reach alive the Land, "Th' extended lines may fasten on the strand,

"Whene'er, loud thundering on the leeward shore,
"While yet aloof, we hear the Breakers roar:
"Thus for the terrible Event prepar'd,

“Brace fore and aft to starboard every Yard;
"So shall our Masts swim lighter on the wave,
"And from the broken Rocks our Seamen save;
"Then westward turn the Stem, that every Mast

May shoreward fall as from the Vessel cast.

"When o'er her side once more the billows bound,
"Ascend the rigging till she strikes the ground;
"And, when you hear aloft the dreadful shock
"That strikes her bottom on some pointed rock,
"The boldest of our Sailors must descend

“The dangerous business of the Deck to tend:
"Then burst the Hatches off, and every Stay
"And every fastening Laniard cut away,

"Planks, Gratings, Booms, and Rafts to leeward cast;
"Then with redoubled strokes attack each Mast,
"That buoyant lumber may sustain you o'er
"The rocky Shelves and Ledges to the Shore:
"But as your firmest succour, till the last
"O cling securely on each faithful Mast!

F

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Though great the danger, and the task severe, "Yet bow not to the tyranny of Fear;

"If once that slavish yoke your souls subdue, "Adieu to Hope! to Life itself adieu!

"I know among you some have oft beheld "A blood-hound train, by rapine's lust impell'd, "On England's cruel coast impatient stand,

"To rob the Wanderers wrecked upon their strand:

These, while their savage office they pursue,

"Oft wound to death the helpless plundered Crew,

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Who, 'scaped from every horror of the main, "Implored their mercy, but implored in vain : "Yet dread not this, a Crime to GREECE unknown,

"Such bloodhounds all her circling shores disown;

Who, though by barb'rous tyranny opprest,

"Can share affliction with the Wretch distrest:
"Their hearts, by cruel fate inured to grief,
"Oft to the friendless Stranger yield relief.”

With conscious horror struck, the naval band
Deserted for a while their Native Land;

They cursed the sleeping vengeance of the Laws, That thus forgot her guardian Sailors' cause.