  Mortal, in thy brief career, Ranger of this nether sphere, Tell me truly, have thine eyes View'd earth's hidden mysteries? Hast thou seen the dark blue sea, Its bosom heaving tranquilly To the wooing breath of night? Hast thou watch'd the quiv'ring light, Where the silver moonbeams dance, Scattered o'er its broad expanse? Likening the giant deep To a sobbing child asleep, O'er whose cheeks and visage fair Smiles that wait on infant care Chase the tear-drops trickling there? Hast thou ever watch'd that sea Rising in its majesty, When its mighty depths are rent By the rushing element, And its waves exultingly Revel in their liberty? Hast thou ever, pale with doubt, View'd the fatal waterspout, Or the whirlpool's treach'rous wave Luring seamen to their grave? Hast thou climb'd o'er Alpine snows, When the day is at its close, When the storm its fury spends, And the avalanche descends, Hurling a terrific death On the mountaineer beneath? Hast thou on Arabia's soil, Faint with heat, and worn with toil, Bow'd beneath the simoom's blast, Till its deadly breath was past? Hast thou e'er pursued thy way 'Neath the red sun's burning ray? And, when hope was almost gone, Has the mirage lured thee on With its waves that ever flee, And but mock thy misery? Hast thou watch'd the torrent's force Dashing onward in its course, Till, in one tremendous leap, Its waters sink into the deep? Hast thou seen the lava glide Down the steep volcano's side? Hast thou seen the misty light Of the comet's erring flight? Or the rainbow's azure span, Or the huge leviathan, Or the meteor in the air, Or the lion in his lair, Or the thousand things that be In the blue depths of the sea? Mortal, in thy brief career, Ranger of this nether sphere, Thou that hast a wand'rer been, Tell me truly, hast thou seen Of fire, ocean, earth, and air, Such things—beautiful and rare? If't has been thine to behold Nature's hidden charms unroll'd, All her features to peruse Deck'd in all their varied hues; If so blest thy lot has been,— Why, what a deal you must have seen! |
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