THE WRECK

Tuapeka Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 17 October 1868, Page 5

THE WRECK

•Twm morning, and the waves were crinuontip£d - r - / x With tie first kisies of the rising sun ; The cofl recesses of the restless sea Yet fa* a little havened conquered night, But swn laughed back a thousand beams for one. The ship through liquid silver sped her way, That brightly streamed from either side the . prow ; The dingy smoke that poured its length behind With gloomy shadow, yet some glory caught, Dubious and fitful, like the halo dimned That round a fallen angel might be flung. Upon the vessel's deck there stood alone, Beneath the rolling shadow, two whom lat« The priestly rite had joined for weal or woe. The m*n, of noble presence, and an air That spoke command, tempered by gentleness, And mild, far-garing eye*, that plainly told ■ Of thought, and struggles with the phantom horde That guard the free of knowledge, and the grief That finds the fruit of good and evil blent : A strong, good man. The woman was most fair, With that bright fairness that belongs to youth, Before the yearning soul has lined the brow And dimned the eye, and faded all the voseThe fairness that we see in rippling br^* 3 JJetrfc«»<l i>y cre&ses, while the jocut** 3 dUII Works silvery meshes ou ** weed -bound stream — The beauty of the flow****'" varied hue » Of rounded limb and cf om ' a constant play. She leant upon hi* "with a winning air Of half embrace, jet not in weakness clung, As clings the f« eWe iv y to tbe o^k* But rather s» the pard that, perched on high, Seems mi-Uly to caress its guardian bough The wide, with lazy eye, it marks below The fated victim, upon whom approached, Launches itself a bolt of death and fear. The gods are jealous ! we approach too nigh Their own perfection to be held as slaves — Are too far distant to become as friends ; And so they hate us, granting joys to make The bitter seem more bitter to the taste, And raising us to heights most near their own, To make the after fall more terrible. 'Tis at the banquet that the ghostly hand Writes out the judgment and the coming doom'Tis in our happiest hours the fates prepare The sorrow, sin, repentance of a life ; And for a moment some f orboding thrills Our inmost being, and the peasants say That hostile feet are marking out our grave. Twas some such portent made him start and ram, And gaze into her eyas ; but there his trust Could read no more than lie desired to read. Twas evening, and a threat'ning shadow lowered Upon the waters, and the sun went down In gloomy splendour. All the cordage groaned, And wailed out fitful strains of melody. In broken masses hung the clouds o'er head, And the sea trembled like a bridled steed Fretting and chafing to be so restrained. The air grew hot and olose, and deadly fear Made pale the faces that were erst so bright. Hate grew less fierce, and lovers grew more fond. Then came the crash, the thunder's fierce uproar, ■ The hissing fall of rain, the deep-toned hnm Of rushing winds, and the unceasing splash Of rising billows ; and the ship staggeredAnd reeled as might a man who meets b*> death By some most deadly, unexpected blow. A dead, benumbing horror seized on all, For hope was past —death's bitterness begun ; And some with feeble prayers assailed the heavens That frowned above them with repellant gloom ; Whilst others found in frantic barsts of mirth A mad nepenthe" for their craven pangs. But he alone s^ood silent ; one arm grasped A stay, the other arm upbore the form Of her he lov&l ; and the bitter spray Beaded her tresses with a glittering crown ; While she clung, trembling, to the stalwart arm TbjMrbore her up ; and still the terror grew, .Till, with a shriek, she tore herself away, And grovelled on the deck before his feet. " The gods avenge a broken vow," slie said ; " Stay me and save me from thtir bitter hate — • ife, scarce a bride.' and yet an erring vrife." >- We often, wheu the tempest raged, hay« seen A stately oak that quivered at its force ; But when the culm returned, majestic still Oast its cool shadow on the heated earth. So for a moment did he bow bis head, And one fierce struggle seemed to rend his frame. Theii stooping down, he gently kissed her brow. * l Weak one, and erring one," said he — the wave 3 Jlolled in and drowned his further utterance. G.M. Tuapeka Oct. 19, 1868,"