The Main-Sail, by the Squall so lately rent, In streaming pendants flying, is unbent: With brails refixed, another soon prepar'd, Ascending, spreads along beneath the Yard. To each yard-arm the head-rope they extend, And soon their earings and their robans berd. That task performed, they first the braces slack, Then to the Chesstree drag th' unwilling Tack. And, while the lee clue-garnet's lowered away, Taught aft the Sheet they tally, and belay. Now to the north, from AFRIC's burning shore, A troop of Porpoises their course explore; In curling wreaths they gambol on the tide, Now bound aloft, now down the billow glide: Their tracks awhile the hoary Waves retain, That burn in sparkling trails along the Main— These fleetest Coursers of the finny race, When threatening Clouds th' etherial vault deface, Their route to leeward still sagacious form, To shun the fury of th' approaching Storm. III. Fair CANDIA now no more beneath her lee Protects the Vessel from th' insulting Sea; Round her broad arms impatient of control, The flattering Wind, that late with promised aid Tost on the tide she feels the tempest blow, Spurning the ground he glories in his might, E'en so, caparisoned in gaudy pride, The bounding Vessel dances on the tide. Fierce and more fierce the gathering Tempest grew, South, and by West, the threatening Demon blew; And every rolling Wave more ample spreads: No hopes of milder weather now appear. Bowlines and Halyards are cast off again, Clue-lines hauled down, and Sheets let fly amain: Their Sails reduced, and all the rigging clear, But with redoubling force the Tempests blow, A dismal shade o'ercasts the frowning Skies, All hands on deck must now the Storm attend. His race performed, the sacred Lamp of day Till deep immerged the sickening orb descends, Sad Evening's hour, how different from the past! No flaming pomp, no blushing glories cast, No ray of friendly light is seen around; The Moon and Stars in hopeless shade are drown'd. The Sailors, summoned aft, all ready stand, And man th' enfolding Brails at his command: But here the doubtful Officers dispute, Till skill, and judgment, prejudice confute: For RODMOND, to new methods still a foe, "Who from the reigning Cause foretels th' Effect, "This barbarous practice ever will reject; For, fluttering loose in air, the rigid Sail "Soon flits to ruins in the furious Gale; "And he, who strives the Tempest to disarm, "Will never first embrail the lee Yard-Arm." So ALBERT spoke; to windward, at his call, Some Seamen the clue-garnet stand to haul— The Tack's eased off, while the involving Clue . Between the pendent blocks ascending flew; The Sheet and weather-brace they now stand by, The lee clue-garnet, and the bunt-lines ply: Then, all prepared, Let go the Sheet! he criesLoud rattling, jarring, through the blocks it flies! |