None dare from Lee the hand withhold; But still at heart there lies a secret fear; For now the year's dread round is drawing near. He swears; but he is sick at heart; That will be told: it needs no words from thee, Bond-slave of sin, see there-that light! And nights will shine and darken o'er thy head, Again the ship lights all the land; Gone horse and ship; but Lee's last hope is o'er; His spirit heard that spirit say, Ay, cling to earth as sailor to the rock! He goes! So thou must loose thy hold, Nor sit thee in the calm Of gentle thoughts, where good men wait their close.- Who's yonder on that long, black ledge, So weak and pale? A year and little more, And on the shingles now he sits, And rolls the pebbles 'neath his hands; And scores the smooth, wet sands; Then tries each cliff, and cove, and jut, that bounds They ask him why he wanders so, And there's no way that I can find—I've tried It brought the tear to many an eye, He shook." You know the spirit-horse I ride! He views the ships that come and go, Flinging a glory round them, as they keep Their course right onward through the unsounded deep. And where the far-off sand-bars lift Into the air; then rush to mimic strife:- But not to Lee. He sits alone; No fellowship nor joy for him. Borne down by wo, he makes no moan, Though tears will sometimes dim That asking eye.-O, how his worn thoughts craveNot joy again, but rest within the grave. The rocks are dripping in the mist Scarce seen the running breakers ;-list Lee hearkens to their voice."I hear, I hear And now the mist seems taking shape, Lee kneels, but cannot pray.-Why mock him so? A sweet, low voice, in starry nights, Its tones come winding up those heights, And he must listen till the stars grow dim, O, it is sad that aught so mild Should bind the soul with bands of fear; The man should dread to hear! But sin hath broke the world's sweet peace-unstrung The harmonious chords to which the angels sung. In thick, dark nights he'd take his seat Below-and hear it break With savage roar, then pause and gather strength, But thou no more shalt haunt the beach, Nor feebly sit thee down, Watching the swaying weeds :-another day, To night the charmed number 's told. So hears his soul, and fears the coming night; Again he sits within that room; Weaken'd with fear, lone, haunted by remorse, Not long he'll wait.-Where now are gone Of airy glory?-Sudden darkness fell; The darkness, like a dome of stone, How hard Lee draws his breath! He shudders as he feels the working Power. Arouse thee, Lee! up! man thee for thine hour! "Tis close at hand: for there, once more, But now she rolls a naked hulk, and throws And where she sank, up slowly came He treads the waters as a solid floor: He's moving on. Lee waits him at the door. They 've met.-"I know thou com'st for me," "I know that I must go with thee Take me not to the dead. It was not I alone that did the deed!" Lee cannot turn. There is a force How still they stand !—that man and horse. "O, spare me," cries the wretch, "thou fearful one!" My time is full-I must not go alone." "I'm weak and faint. O, let me stay!" "Nay, murderer, rest nor stay for thee!" The horse and man are on their way; He bears him to the sea. Hark! how the spectre breathes through this still night! See, from his nostrils streams a deathly light! He's on the beach; but stops not there. Holds him by fearful spell ;-he cannot leap. It lights the sea around their track— They're seen no more; the night has shut them in. The earth has wash'd away its stain. The climbing moon plays on the rippling sea. |