As black as night-they turned to white, and cast against the

cloud

A snowy sheet, as if each surge upturn'd a sailors shroud :—
Still flew my boat; alas! alas! her course was nearly run!
Behold yon fatal billow rise-ten billows heap'd in one!
With fearful speed the dreary mass came rolling, rolling, fast,
As if the scooping sea contain'd only one wave at last!
Still on it came, with horrid roar, a swift pursuing grave;
It seem'd as though some cloud had turn'd its hugeness to a
wave!

Its briny sleet began to beat beforehand in my face

I felt the rearward keel begin to climb its swelling base!
I saw its alpine hoary head impending over mine!
Another pulse-and down it rush’d—an avalanche of brine!
Brief pause had I, on God to cry, or think of wife and home;
The waters closed-and when I shriek'd, I shriek❜d below the
foam!

Beyond that rush I have no hint of any after-deed

For I was tossing on the waste, as senseless as a weed.

"Where am I?—in the breathing world, or in the world of death?"

With sharp and sudden pang I drew another birth of breath;
My eyes drank in a doubtful light, my ears a doubtful sound-
And was that ship a real ship whose tackle seem'd around?
A moon, as if the earthly moon, was shining up aloft;
But were those beams the very beams that I had seen so oft?
A face, that mock'd the human face, before me watch'd alone;
But were those eyes the eyes of man that looked against my
own?

Oh! never may the moon again disclose me such a sight
As met my gaze, when first I look'd, on that accursed night!
I've seen a thousand horrid shapes begot of fierce extremes
Of fever; and most frightful things have haunted in my
dreams-

Hyænas-cats-blood-loving bats, and apes with hateful

stare

Pernicious snakes, and shaggy bulls-the lion, and she-bearStrong enemies, with Judas looks, of treachery and spite— Detested features, hardly dimm'd and banish'd by the light! Pale-sheeted ghosts, with gory locks, upstarting from their tombs

All fantasies and images that flit in midnight glooms

Hags-goblins, demons, lemures; have made me all aghast,— But nothing like that GRIMLY ONE who stood beside the mast!

His cheek was black-his brow was black-his eyes and hair as dark:

His hand was black, and where it touch'd, it left a sable

mark;

His throat was black, his vest the same, and when I look'd

beneath,

His breast was black-all, all, was black, except his grinning

teeth.

His sooty crew were like in hue, as black as Afric slaves! Oh, horror! e'en the ship was black that plough'd the inky waves!

"Alas!" I cried "for love of truth and blessed mercy's sake, Where am I? in what dreadful ship? upon what dreadful

lake?

What shape is that, so very grim, and black as any coal?
It is Mahound, the evil one, and he has gain'd my soul!
Oh, mother dear! my tender nurse! dear meadows that
beguiled

My happy days, when I was yet a little sinless child,-
My mother dear-my native fields, I never more shall see:
I'm sailing in the Devil's Ship, upon the Devil's sea!"

Loud laugh'd that SABLE MARINER, and loudly in return
His sooty crew sent forth a laugh that ran from stem to

stern

A dozen pair of grimy cheeks were crumpled on the nonce-
As many sets of grinning teeth came shining out at once;
A dozen gloomy shapes at once enjoy'd the merry fit,

With shriek and yell, and oaths as well, like Demons of the
Pit.

They crow'd their fill, and then the Chief made answer for the whole

"Our skins," said he, "are black, ye see, because we carry

coal;

You'll find your mother, sure enough, and see your native

fields

For this here ship has pick'd you up-the 'Mary Ann of

Shields!""

THOMAS HOOD.

DIVISION III.-DRAMATIC.

FROM "RICHELIEU."

Five Characters.-RICHELIEU, JOSEPH, JULIE, CLERMONT,

Rich.

BARADAS.

Present-RICHELIEU and JOSEPH.

Joseph-Did you hear the King?

Joseph. I did there's danger! Had you been less

haughty

Rich. And suffered slaves to chuckle-"See the Car

dinal

How meek his Eminence is to-day "-I tell thee

This is a strife in which the loftiest look

Is the most subtle armour

Joseph.

But

Rich.

No time

For ifs and buts. I will accuse these traitors!

François shall witness that De Baradas

Gave him the secret missive for De Bouillon,

And told him life and death were in the scroll.
I will-I will-

Joseph.

Tush! François is your creature ;

So they will say, and laugh at you!-your witness

Must be that same Despatch.

Rich.

Away to Marion !

Joseph. I have been there she is seized-removed-im

prison'd

By the Count's orders.

Rich.

Goddess of bright dreams,
My country-shalt thou lose me now, when most
Thou need'st thy worshipper? My native land!
Let me but ward this dagger from thy heart,
And die-but on thy bosom!

Julie. Home!-is Adrien there?—you're dumb-yet strive For words; I see them trembling on your lip, But choked by pity. It was truth—all truth! Seized-the Bastile-and in your presence, too! Cardinal, where is Adrien?-Think-he saved Your life :-your name is infamy, if wrong Should come to his!

Let thine eyes meet mine:

Answer me but one word-I am a wife-
I ask thee for my home-my FATE—my ALL!
Where is my husband?

Rich.

You are Richelieu's ward,

A soldier's bride: they who insist on truth

Must out-face fear;-you ask me for your husband?
There where the clouds of heaven look darkest, o'er
The domes of the Bastile!

Julie.

O, mercy! mercy!

Save him, restore him, father! Art thou not

The Cardinal-King?—the Lord of life and death—
Art thou not Richelieu ?