The voyage of Columbus[Poem] . ; And, when they overtook, with bowing heads They placed their strong, broad shoulders underneath The heavy transoms of the tardy fleet. And pushed them onward, seeming to rejoice To have the novel fleet sail oer their seas, So long a lonely, threatning unknown waste. Thus sailed the searchers on their western course,— The course of sun, moon, stars, clouds, winds and waves. With hope they saw the star of empire gleam. So potent since to shape mans western way; While watched Columbus from the high-pooped deck. With astrolabe or sounding-line in hand. Observing ev
The voyage of Columbus[Poem] . ; And, when they overtook, with bowing heads They placed their strong, broad shoulders underneath The heavy transoms of the tardy fleet. And pushed them onward, seeming to rejoice To have the novel fleet sail oer their seas, So long a lonely, threatning unknown waste. Thus sailed the searchers on their western course,— The course of sun, moon, stars, clouds, winds and waves. With hope they saw the star of empire gleam. So potent since to shape mans western way; While watched Columbus from the high-pooped deck. With astrolabe or sounding-line in hand. Observing everything in sea and sky, And noting down the changes they revealed. The little petrel followed in their wake, Devoid of fear, encouraging their minds, 18 While gay Meduca, with their tiny sails, Moved with the voyagers before the breeze; And as the ships sailed watchfully along, The flying fish flew thick before their path, And dolphins leaped to seize their fleeting prey. At times huge whales with surging length rushed out,. While loud their spoutings roared to startled ears. Swift porpoises oft played around the ships ; And then the gulf weeds, twined in golden wreaths. The strange sea strewed, and gave faint hearts new hope. But they at length seemed false, yet played their part, Alluring eager souls still further on. Then they began to yield to fear and doubt, Yet thought the weedy sea must have a shore. The charted limits of the sea was passed Where former navigators thought they saw Strange islands in the cloudy distance loom. So they sailed on, a creW of frighted souls, Not knowing what to do, between their fears,— A growing dread of being lost at sea Or fearing to rebel against their chief. But when their compass varied from the stars, Another terror adding to their voyage, 19 They felt rebellious. Nothing could be worse Than sailing onward to a certain death. Thus they were all at fault; all signs had failed. The anxious sailors, with their watchful eyes, Day after
Size: 2656px × 941px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectcolumbuschristopher
