| Ocean and the Rock | | | | The Rock: | ‘Cease, O rude and raging Sea, | | Thus to waste thy war on me. | | Hast thou not enough assail’d, | | All these ages, Fool, and fail’d?’ | | | | Ocean: | ‘Gaunt and ghastly Skeleton, | | Remnant of a time that’s gone, | | Tott’ring in thy last decay | | Durst thou still to darken day?’ | | | | The Rock: | ‘Empty Brawler, brawl no more; | | Cease to waste thy watery war | | On my bastion’d Bases broad, | | Sanctified by Time and God.’ | | | | Ocean: | ‘Thou that beËst but to be, | | Scornest thou my energy? | | Not much longer lasts the strife. | | I am Labour, I am Life.’ | | | | The Rock: | ‘Roar, then, roar, and vent thy Surge; | | Thou not now shalt drone my dirge. | | Dost imagine to dismay | | This my iron breast with Spray?’ | | | | Ocean: | ‘Relic of primeval Slime, | | I shall whelm thee in my time. | | Changeless thou dost ever die; | | Changing but immortal I.’ | | | | Andamans, 1886-7. |
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