For RODMOND, to new methods still a foe, Would first, at all events, the sheet let go; To long-tried practice obstinately warm, He doubts conviction, and relies on form. This ALBERT and ARION disapprove, And first to brail the tack up firmly move: "The watchful Seaman, whose sagacious eye "On sure experience may with truth rely, "Who from the reigning Cause foretels th' Effect, "This barbarous practice ever will reject :
For, fluttering loose in air, the rigid Sail
"Soon flits to ruins in the furious Gale;
"And he, who strives the Tempest to disarm,
"Will never first embrail the lee Yard-Arm."
So ALBERT Spoke; to windward, at his call,
Some Seamen the clue-garnet stand to haul—
The Tack's eased off, while the involving Clue
Between the pendent blocks ascending flew ;
The Sheet and weather-brace they now stand by,
The lee clue-garnet, and the bunt-lines ply;
Then, all prepared, Let go the Sheet! he cries-
Loud rattling, jarring, though the blocks it flies!
Shivering at first, till by the blast impelled;
High o'er the lee yard-arm the Canvass swelled;
By spilling lines embraced, with brails confin'd,
It lies at length unshaken by the wind.
The Foresail then secured with equal care,
Again to reef the Mainsail they repair;
While some above the Yard o'er-haul the tye,
Below, the down-haul Tackle others ply;
Jears, lifts and brails, a seaman each attends,
And down the mast its mighty Yard descends :
When lowered sufficient they securely.brace,
And fix the rolling tackle in its place;
The reef-lines and their earings now prepared,
Mounting on pliant shrouds they man the Yard:
Far on the extremes appear two able hands,
For no inferior skill this task demands-
To windward, foremost, young ARION strides,
The lee yard-arm the gallant Boatswain rides:
Each Earing to its Cringle first they bend,
The reef-band then along the yard extend;
The circling Earings round th' extremes entwin'd,
By outer and by inner turns they bind;
The reef-lines next from hand to hand received,
Through eyelet-holes and roban-legs were reeved;
The folding Reefs in plaits inrolled they lay,
Extend the worming lines, and ends belay.
Hadst thou, ARION! held the leeward post
While on the Yard by mountain billows tost,
Perhaps Oblivion o'er our tragic tale
Had then for ever drawn her dusky veil;
But ruling Heaven prolonged thy vital date,
Severer ills to suffer, and relate.
For, while aloft the order those attend
To furl the Mainsail, or on deck descend;
A Sea, upsurging with stupendous roll,
To instant ruin seems to doom the whole:
O friends, secure your hold! ARION cries—
It comes all dreadful! down the Vessel lies
Half buried sideways; while, beneath it tost,
Four Seamen off the lee yard-arm are lost:
Torn with resistless fury from their hold,
In vain their struggling arms the Yard enfold;
In vain to grapple flying ropes they try,
The Ropes, alas! a solid gripe deny :
Prone on the midnight Surge with panting breath
They cry for aid, and long contend with Death;
High o'er their heads the rolling Billows sweep,
And down they sink in everlasting sleep.
Bereft of power to help, their Comrades see
The wretched victims die beneath the lee,
With fruitless sorrow their lost state bemoan,
Perhaps a fatal prelude to their own.
In dark suspence on deck the pilots stand,
Nor can determine on the next command:
Though still they knew the Vessel's armed side
Impenetrable to the clasping Tide;
Though still the waters by no secret wound
A passage to her deep recesses found;
Surrounding evils yet they ponder o'er,
A storm, a dangerous sea, and leeward shore!
"Should they, though reefed, again their sails extend,
"Again in shivering streamers they may rend;
"Or should they stand, beneath th' oppressive strain
"The down-pressed Ship may never rise again;
"Too late to weather now MOREA's land,
"And drifting fast on ATHENS' rocky strand.”
Thus they lament the consequence severe,
Where perils unallayed by Hope appear:
Long pondering in their minds each feared event,
At last to furl the Courses they consent;
That done, to reef the Mizen next agree,
And try beneath it sidelong in the Sea.
Now down the mast the Yard they lower away, Then jears and topping-lift secure belay; The Head, with doubling canvass fenced around, In balance near the lofty peak they bound; The Reef enwrapped, th' inserting knittles tied, The halyards throt and peak are next appliedThe Order given, the Yard aloft they swayed, The brails relaxed, th' extended Sheet belayed; The Helm its post forsook, and, lashed a-lee, Inclined the wayward prow to front the sca.
IV. When sacred ORPHEUS on the Stygian coast, With notes divine deplored his Consort lost; Though round him perils grew in fell array, And Fates and Furies stood to bar his way; Not more adventurous was th' attempt, to move Th' infernal Powers with strains of heavenly love,
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