68



Ckmneets two contxnents of Tarioos cfime
Where all was Nature, aimide and niblime*
In clearer view the singe, with ceaseless roar,
Bnike to the west, on Lusitania's shore,
Where forni'd erf* arching rocks abrupt and steep
Appeared a grot, in which a nymph asleep
Bechn'd akmg the tesselated, ground.
Her shining locks with sea^igreen fillets bound.
A youth of princely mein not far remote
Strcrils on the beach, and lost in pensive thought.
Oft, as the stealing tide o'ertakes him, laves
His unsuspecting foot amid the waves.
With silent step before the grot he passed.
And, chancing on the Nymph a look to cast.
The cavern enter'd, softly pressed her hand,
And bade her eyes unclose with whisper bland.
Her eyes undodng, on the youth she threw
A sweet complacent smile, but soon withdrew,
And lightly sprung into hex shell, that stood
Afloat, and roddng just within the flood.
As dashing o'er their manes the scattered spray
With oary feet the coursers burst away.
Impatient of its band her streaming hair
Starts ftom her neck, and flies alnoad in air.
GraceAil above the flowing reins she bends,
And toward the stet^ her fair left arm extends.
The reins are twisted sea^weed strung with pearii ;
A huhof seanweed in her rig^t she whirls.
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Their spiral oondis attendant Tritons blow,
While Memuuds in their eoral ^mes below
Hear the loud peal, and crowd around in flocks,
The brown ooze trickling ttom their pendent toeks
Each to the Pow'r respectful homage pays.
And a rich present in her hand conveys ;
Transparent ambers, beryls ting'd with green,
And pointed crystals beaming rays serene ;
Bright specimens of all the wealth that paves
The rugfged floor of Ocean*s mighty caves.
