Mirror of might and of splendor! Type of immensity! Smiling in face of the upper blue; Beautiful! crystal Sea! Yet, under thy brilliant beaming, As chills at the heart of love When a smile o'er-gilds the placid face, Cold under-currents move. Over thy glistering waters, Out of the purple haze, Thrilleth the chords of memory With touch of other days. Once more, by thy rim, bright Ocean! A youthful, happy band We course along the yellow sands Afar, in fair Scotland. Once more we plash our childish feet Amid thy shining waves; Or shelter from the sudden gust Within thy border caves. Ho! voices of the summer sea! Ho! voices sweet and low! Those days of long ago. He sailed upon thy whitened crest, The choicest of our band; Thy seething surges wail his dirge On far New Holland strand. That other sleeps—we know not where, Who early braved thy tide;— Sing wavelets! we shall meet at length Upon that further side. Yes, mighty Ocean! all thy storms Shall lull to perfect peace; And all thy weary monotones, With rhythms sad shall cease. So now, we stand upon thy brink; Whilst 'yond thy sparkling foam, We hear sweet voices calling us To our eternal home. |