Poems by Samuel Rogers Part 16

VELASQUEZ, GARCIA, thro' the echoing croud Trac'd by their mirth--from EBRO'S cla.s.sic sh.o.r.e, From golden TAJO--to return no more!

[Footnote 1: It was afterwards given to Guacanahari.

See F. Col. c. 32.]

[Footnote 2: Light vessels, formerly used by the Spaniards and Portuguese.]

[Footnote 3: F. Columbus, c. 23.]

[Footnote 4: Many such appellations occur in Bernal Diaz. c. 204.]

CANTO V.

The Voyage continued.

Yet who but He undaunted could explore [x]

A world of waves--a sea without a sh.o.r.e, Trackless and vast and wild as that reveal'd When round the Ark the birds of tempest wheel'd; When all was still in the destroying hour-- No sign of man! no vestige of his power!

One at the stern before the hour-gla.s.s stood, As 'twere to count the sands; one o'er the flood Gaz'd for St. Elmo; [Footnote 1] while another cried "Once more good morrow!" and sate down and sigh'd.

Day, when it came, came only with its light.

Tho' long invok'd, 'twas sadder than the night!

Look where He would, for ever as He turn'd, He met the eye of one that inly mourn'd.

Then sunk his generous spirit, and He wept.

The friend, the father rose; the hero slept.

PALOS, thy port, with many a pang resign' d, Fill'd with its busy scenes his lonely mind; The solemn march, the vows in concert giv'n, [Footnote 2]

The bended knees and lifted hands to heav'n, The incens'd rites, and choral harmonies, The Guardian's blessings mingling with his sighs; While his dear boys--ah, on his neck they hung, [y]

And long at parting to his garments clung.

Oft in the silent night-watch doubt and fear Broke in uncertain murmurs on his ear.

Oft the stern Catalan, at noon of day, Mutter'd dark threats, and linger'd to obey; Tho' that brave Youth--he, whom his courser bore Right thro' the midst, when, fetlock deep in gore, The great GONZALO [Footnote 3] battled with the Moor, (What time the ALHAMBRA shook--soon to unfold Its sacred courts, and fountains yet untold, Its holy texts and arabesques of gold) Tho' ROLDAN, [Footnote 4] sleep and death to him alike, Grasp'd his good sword and half unsheath'd to strike.

"Oh born to wander with your flocks," he cried, "And bask and dream along the mountain-side; To urge your mules, tinkling from hill to hill; Or at the vintage-feast to drink your fill, And strike your castanets, with gipsy-maid Dancing Fandangos in the chesnut shade-- Come on," he cried, and threw his glove in scorn, "Not this your wonted pledge, the br.i.m.m.i.n.g horn.

Valiant in peace! Adventurous at home!

Oh, had ye vow'd with pilgrim-staff to roam; Or with banditti sought the sheltering wood, Where mouldering crosses mark the scene of blood!--"

He said, he drew; then, at his Master's frown, Sullenly sheath'd, plunging the weapon down.

[Footnote 1: A luminous appearance of good omen.]

[Footnote 2: His public procession to the Convent of Rabida on the day before he set sail. It was there that his sons had received their education; and he himself appears to have pa.s.sed some time there, the venerable Guardian, Juan Perez de Marchena, being his zealous and affectionate friend.--The ceremonies of his departure and return are represented in many of the fresco-paintings in the palaces of Genoa.]

[Footnote 3: Gonzalo Fernandez, already known by the name of The great Captain. Granada surrendered on the 2nd of January, 1492.

Columbus set sail on the, 3rd of August following.]

[Footnote 4: Probably a soldier of fortune. There were more than one of the name on board.]

CANTO VI.

The flight of an Angel of Darkness.

War and the Great in War let others sing.

Havoc and spoil, and tears and triumphing; The morning-march that flashes to the sun, The feast of vultures when the day is done; And the strange tale of many slain for one!

I sing a Man, amidst his sufferings here, Who watch'd and serv'd in humbleness and fear; Gentle to others, to himself severe.

Still unsubdued by Danger's varying form, Still, as unconscious of the coming storm, He look'd elate! His beard, his mien sublime, Shadow'd by Age;--by Age before the time, [Footnote 1]

From many a sorrow borne in many a clime, Mov'd every heart. And now in opener skies Stars yet unnam'd of purer radiance rise!

Stars, milder suns, that love a shade to cast, And on the bright wave fling the trembling mast. [Footnote 2]

'Twas the mid hour, when He, whose accents dread Still wander'd thro' the regions of the dead, (MERION, commission'd with his host to sweep From age to age the melancholy deep) To elude the seraph-guard that watch'd for man, And mar, as erst, the Eternal's perfect plan, Rose like the Condor, and, at towering height, In pomp of plumage sail'd, deepening the shades of night.

Roc of the West! to him all empire giv'n! [z]

Who bears [Footnote 3] Axalhua's dragon-folds to heav'n; [Footnote 4]

His flight a whirlwind, and, when heard afar, Like thunder, or the distant din of war!

Mountains and seas fled backward as he pa.s.s'd O'er the great globe, by not a cloud o'ercast From the ANTARCTICK, from the Land of Fire [Footnote 5]

To where ALASKA'S [Footnote 6] wintry wilds retire; From mines [Footnote 7] of gold, and giant-sons of earth, To grotts of ice, and tribes of pigmy birth Who freeze alive, nor, dead, in dust repose, High-hung in forests to the casing snows.[a]

Now mid angelic mult.i.tudes he flies, That hourly come with blessings from the skies; Wings the blue element, and, borne sublime, Eyes the set sun, gilding each distant clime; Then, like a meteor, shooting to the main, Melts into pure intelligence again.

[Footnote 1: F. Col. c.3.]

[Footnote 2: Splendour of the nights in a tropical climate.]

[Footnote 3: Axalhua, or the Emperor. The name in the Mexican language for the great serpent of America.]

[Footnote 4: As the Roc of the East is said to have carried off the Elephant. See Marco Polo.]

[Footnote 5: Tierra del Fuego.]

[Footnote 6: Northern extremity of the New World. See Cook's last Voyage.]

[Footnote 7: Mines of Chili; which extend, says Ovalle, to the Strait of Magellan. I. 4.]

CANTO VII.

A mutiny excited.

What tho' Despondence reign'd, and wild Affright; Stretch'd in the midst, and, thro' that dismal night, [b]

By his white plume reveal'd and buskins white, [c]

Slept ROLDAN. When he clos'd his gay career, Hope fled for ever, and with Hope fled Fear, Blest with each gift indulgent Fortune sends, Birth and its rights, wealth and its train of friends, Star-like he shone! Now beggar'd, and alone, Danger he woo'd, and claim'd her for his own.

O'er him a Vampire [Footnote 1] his dark wings display'd.

'Twas MERION'S self, covering with dreadful shade. [d]

He came, and, couch'd on ROLDAN'S ample breast, Each secret pore of breathing life possess'd, Fanning the sleep that seem'd his final rest; Then, inly gliding like a subtle flame, [e]

Subdued the man, and from his thrilling frame Sent forth the voice! "We live, we breathe no more!

The fatal wind blows on the dreary sh.o.r.e!

On yonder cliffs, beckoning their fellow-prey, The spectres stalk, and murmur at delay! [Footnote 2]

--Yet if thou canst (not for myself I plead, Mine but to follow where 'tis thine to lead) Oh turn and save! To thee, with streaming eyes, To thee each widow kneels, each orphan cries!

Who now, condemn'd the lingering hours to tell, Think and but think of those they lov'd so well!"

All melt in tears! but what can tears avail?

These climb the mast, and shift the swelling sail.

These s.n.a.t.c.h the helm; and round me now I hear Smiting of hands, out-cries of grief and fear, (That In the aisles at midnight haunt me still, Turning my lonely thoughts from good to ill) "Were there no graves--none in our land," they cry, "That thou hast brought us on the deep to die?"

Silent with sorrow, long within his cloak His face He m.u.f.fled--then the Hero spoke.

"Generous and brave! when G.o.d himself is' here, Why shake at shadows in your mid career?

He can suspend the Jaws himself design'd, He walks the waters, and the winged wind; [Footnote 3]

Himself your guide! and yours the high behest To lift your voice, and bid a world be blest!

And can you shrink? [Footnote 4] to you, to you consign'd The glorious privilege to serve mankind!

Oh had I perish'd, when my failing frame [Footnote 5]