At Whitby.
Four Eras.
I.
“ I have left the sinful world and chosen Heav’n :1
Lord, keep me thine !”2
Such prayers rise to the vaulted roof which shrouds3
St. Hilda’s shrine.4
And down each lofty aisle and cloistered path5
Glide silent forms,6
Safe, in the sacred Abbey’s shelt’ring shade,7
From Life’s rough storms :8
Sweet hymns of praise are lifted all day long ;9
And, in dark night,10
The simple nuns dream, in their narrow cells,11
Of Love’s delight.12
II.
The autumn brings the whalers home from far ;13
And, on the quay,14
All press to hear the news of those on board,15
Or lost at sea ;16
And eager eyes are strained—while hearts beat high,17
’Twixt hope and fear—18
To catch a glimpse, across the harbour-bar,19
Of one held dear :20
And the rich, hard-earnèd freight is half forgot,21
In the first joy22
Of clasping in successful, stalwart arms23
Loved wife or boy.24
III.
High on the tow’ring scar, a woman stands,25
Above the roar26
Of the wild ocean’s fury, and the wrecks27
Which strew the shore ;28
Watching th’ intrepid life-boat rise and fall29
With each huge wave,30
While the bold crew live only as one man31
More lives to save :32
For twice already this drear afternoon,33
Below the pier,34
They have brought a human cargo safe to land,35
’Midst shout and cheer ;36
And none will cease from his proud task, nor yield37
His gallant oar ;38
So the undaunted band, with failing strength,39
Starts out once more :40
But noble purpose nerves each arm, and fires41
Each steadfast eye ;42
And all goes well till—Hark ! from the high rock43
A piercing cry !—44
The woman watches still—as, with fierce rush45
And awful leap,46
A mighty billow bursts upon the boat ;47
And in the deep—48
The raging deep, her two brave sons are cast,49
Among their fellow heroes, for their last,50
Unending sleep.51
IV.
The sun is blazing on the wide-stretched moors52
With cloudless pow’r,53
Bright’ning to lustrous amethyst the heath54
In open flow’r ;55
And sparkling on the burnished summer sea,56
Where, in full light,57
The sails of many a passing sloop and brig58
Gleam dazzling white.59
Gaily dressed idlers lounge upon the cliff60
To hear the band,61
Or, over “ Silvia’s Lovers” hang entranced :62
And in the sand,63
Their loose locks lifted and their fair cheeks kissed64
By each soft breeze,65
The happy children dig, and build, and romp,66
In careless ease.67
On the steep side of either cliff, which skirts68
The river-bed,69
Nestles the quaint old town, whose steep, tiled roofs70
Show ruddy red71
In the warm glow ; and, crowning the grand height72
On the east side,73
The ruined monast’ry and old church stand74
In stately pride,75
Frowning upon the pretty play at sci’nce76
Kept up beneath,77
Where laughing ladies scour for ammonites78
The shores of death.79
Scattered abroad upon the shimm’ring sea80
Both far and wide,81
The herring-fleet awaits, with ready sail,82
The rising tide.83
See now ! at length the heavy-laden boats84
Come one by one85
Up to the staithes, to land their welcome store,86
Till all is done–87
Till ev’ry shining, silver heap is told88
By the skilled hand,89
Which counts by twos and twos, where, piled up high,90
The baskets stand,91
Waiting to take in turn a full supply ;92
And all along93
The busy quay resounds the sportive jest,94
Or snatch of song,95
As carts are filled and nets hung out to dry ;96
For evry heart97
Rejoices in its neighbour’s joy ; and each98
With all takes part.99
And surely He who made poor fishermen100
His friends on earth,101
Stoops down from Heav’n to guard and bless them still102
In toil or mirth.103