THE SEA-NYMPH. Ann Radcliffe (née Ward) Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Radcliffe, Ann Ward, 1764-1823. The Poems of Mrs. Ann Radcliffe. London printed by and for J. Smith, Princes Street 1816 pp. 56-62. 118p. [Radcliffe's poems only, pp. 1-95]

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THE SEA-NYMPH . Down , down a thousand fathom deep , Among the sounding seas I go ; Play round the foot of every steep Whose cliffs above the ocean grow . There , within their secret caves , I hear the mighty rivers roar ; And guide their streams through Neptune's waves To bless the green earth's inmost shore : And bid the freshen'd waters glide , For fern-crown'd nymphs of lake , or brook , Through winding woods and pastures wide , And many a wild , romantic nook . For this the nymphs , at fall of eve , Oft dance upon the flow'ry banks , And sing my name , and garlands weave To bear beneath the wave their thanks . In coral bow'rs I love to lie , And hear the surges roll above , And , through the waters , view on high The proud ships sail , and gay clouds move . And oft at midnight's stillest hour , When summer seas the vessel lave , I love to prove my charmful pow'r While floating on the moon-light wave . And when deep sleep the crew has bound , And the sad lover musing leans O'er the ship's side , I breathe around Such strains as speak no mortal means ! O'er the dim waves his searching eye Sees but the vessel's lengthen'd shade ; Above — the moon and azure sky ; Entranc'd he hears , and half afraid ! Sometimes a single note I swell , That , softly sweet , at distance dies ; Then wake the magic of my shell , And choral voices round me rise ! The trembling youth , charm'd by my strain , Calls up the crew , who , silent , bend O'er the high deck , but list in vain ; My song is hush'd , my wonders end ! Within the mountain's woody bay , Where the tall bark at anchor rides , At twilight hour , with tritons gay , I dance upon the lapsing tides . And with my sister-nymphs I sport , 'Till the broad sun looks o'er the floods ; Then , swift we seek our crystal court , Deep in the wave , ' mid Neptune's woods . In cool arcades and glassy halls We pass the sultry hours of noon , Beyond wherever sun-beam falls , Weaving sea-flowers in gay festoon . The while we chant our ditties sweet To some soft shell that warbles near ; Join'd by the murmuring currents , fleet , That glide along our halls so clear . There , the pale pearl and sapphire blue , And ruby red , and em'rald green , Dart from the domes a changing hue , And sparry columns deck the scene . When the dark storm scowls o'er the deep , And long , long peals of thunder sound , On some high cliff my watch I keep O'er all the restless seas around : 'Till on the ridgy wave , afar , Comes the lone vessel , labouring slow , Spreading the white foam in the air , With sail and topmast bending low . Then , plunge I ' mid the ocean's roar , My way by quiv'ring lightnings shewn , To guide the bark to peaceful shore , And hush the sailor's fearful groan . And if too late I reach its side To save it from the ' whelming surge , I call my dolphins o'er the tide , To bear the crew where isles emerge . Their mournful spirits soon I cheer , While round the desert coast I go , With warbled songs they faintly hear , Oft as the stormy gust sinks low . My music leads to lofty groves , That wild upon the sea-bank wave ; Where sweet fruits bloom , and fresh spring roves , And closing boughs the tempest brave . The spirits of the air obey My potent voice they love so well ; And , on the clouds , paint visions gay , While strains more sweet at distance swell . And thus the lonely hours I cheat , Soothing the ship-wreck'd sailor's heart , 'Till from the waves the storms retreat , And o'er the east the day-beams dart . Neptune for this oft binds me fast To rocks below , with coral chain , 'Till all the tempest's over-past , And drowning seamen cry in vain . Whoe'er ye are that love my lay , Come , when red sun-set tints the wave , To the still sands , where fairies play ; There , in cool seas , I love to lave .