A favouring breeze now spreads his sails,
With sturdy arm they sweep the sea:
His bark from view now dimly fades;.
But hath he not one care for me ?
Yes, he is gone and lost to view,
Forgetful of the vows he swore:
Why did he linger, when he knew
His fated wanderings were not o'er?
As when the moon in vaulted heaven
O'er the vast ocean sheds her light;
A boon to grateful mortals given,
To guide their wanderings through the night.
But when behind a cloud she glides,
A veil before her seems to fall;
Far worse the gloom when thus she hides
Than had she never shined before.
E'en so this Trojan; had his fleet
Been carried safely past our 'shore,
Would ne'er have kneeled before our feet
Phoenician's kindness to implore.
And I should ne'er have broke the vows
So long observed, to him I loved:
And ne'er again—this Venus knows—
Forgotten fires my heart have moved.
But now, a sadness fills my heart,
A gloom I never felt before,—
The shades of night refuse me rest;
What profit, then, to linger more?
What profit? 'twere my sole release
From this, a life of misery;
For death alone can give me peace
In this, mine hour of agony.
The pyre now burns: the deed is done!
O Death, with joy I thee embrace!
For thus alone comes both in one,—
An end to life and to disgrace.
J. H. W.