But frights not him, whom evening and the spray Slowly and sorrowing-" Was your search in vain?" Gruffly he answers, 'Tis a sorry sight! 'A seaman's body: there'll be more to-night!' Hark! to those sounds, they're from distress at sea! How quick they come! What terrors may there be! Yes, 'tis a driven vessel: I discern Lights, signs of terror, gleaming from the stern; Their wives pursue, and damsels urg'd by dread, Their head the gown has hooded, and their call See one poor girl, all terror and alarm, No! 'I will not'-still she cries, "Thou shalt not go." This for a moment, and then clouds again, But hear we now those sounds? do lights appear? Such are our winter-views: but night comes on, Now business sleeps, and daily cares are gone : Now parties form; and some their friends assist, To waste the idle hours at sober whist; The tavern's pleasure, or the concert's charm, Others advent'rous walk abroad and meet Thus shall you something of our BOROUGH know, Far as a verse, with Fancy's aid, can show; Of sea or river, of a quay or street, The best description must be incomplete; E LETTER II. THE CHURCH. Festinat enim de currere velox Flosculus angustæ miseræque brevissima Vita Portio! dum bibimus, dum serta, unguenta, puellas Poscimus, obrepit non intellecta senectus. Juvenal, Satir. 9. lin. 126. And when at last thy love shall die, Wilt thou receive his parting breath? Wilt thou repress each struggling sigh And cheer with smiles the bed of death? Percy. |