THE MARINER. 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. 69-72. 118p. [Radcliffe's poems only, pp. 1-95]

This e-text is part of the Works section of the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive (ECPA).

XML created for the Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive (ECPA).

Typography, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation have been cautiously modernized. The source of the text is given and all significant editorial interventions have been recorded in textual notes. This text has been edited to conform to the recommendations found in Level 5 of the Best Practices for TEI in Libraries version 4.0.0.

Library of Congress Name Authority File (LCNAF) text-indent: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: center; text-align: right; text-align: left; display: inline font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;
THE MARINER . Soft came the breath of spring ; smooth flow'd the tide ; And blue the heaven in its mirror smil'd ; The white sail trembled , swell'd , expanded wide , The busy sailors at the anchor toil'd . With anxious friends , that shed the parting tear , The deck is throng'd — how swift the moments fly ; The vessel heaves , the farewel signs appear ; Mute is each tongue , and eloquent each eye ! The last dread moment comes ! — The sailor-youth Hides the big drop , and smiles amid his pain , Sooths his sad bride , and vows eternal truth , " Farewell , my love — we shall — shall meet again ! " Long on the stern , with waving hand , he stood ; The crowded shore sinks , lessening , from his view , As gradual glides the bark along the flood ; His bride is seen no more — " Adieu ! — adieu ! " The breeze of Eve moans low , her smile is o'er , Dim steals her twilight down the crimson'd west , He climbs the top-most mast , to seek once more The far-seen coast , where all his wishes rest . He views its dark line on the distant sky , And Fancy leads him to his little home , He sees his weeping love , he hears her sigh , He sooths her griefs , and tells of joys to come . Eve yields to night , the breeze to wintry gales , In one vast shade the seas and shores repose ; He turns his aching eyes , — his spirit fails , The chill tear falls ; — sad to the deck he goes ! The storm of midnight swells , the sails are furl'd , Deep sounds the lead , but finds no friendly shore ; Fast o'er the waves the wretched bark is hurl'd , " O Ellen , Ellen ! we must meet no more ! " Lightnings , that shew the vast and foamy deep , The rending thunders , as they onward roll , The loud , loud winds , that o'er the billows sweep — Shake the firm nerve , appal the bravest soul ! Ah ! what avails the seamen's toiling care ! The straining cordage bursts , the mast is riv'n ; The sounds of terror groan along the air , Then sink afar ; — the bark on rocks is driv'n ; Fierce o'er the wreck the whelming waters pass'd , The helpless crew sunk in the roaring main ! Henry's faint accents trembled in the blast — Farewell my love ! — we ne'er shall meet again ! " Oft , at the calm and silent ev'ning hour , When summer-breezes linger on the wave , A melancholy voice is heard to pour Its lonely sweetness o'er poor Henry's grave ! And oft , at midnight , airy strains are heard Around the grove , where Ellen's form is laid ; Nor is the dirge by village-maidens fear'd , For lovers ' spirits guard the holy shade !