William McCarty, comp. The American National Song Book. 1842.
Wreck of the HornetWilliam Davis Gallagher (18081894)
T
Slept on the glittering ocean—
And Night’s dark robes were journeying up,
With slow and solemn motion:
And ever and anon was heard
The sea-mew’s shriek—ill-omen’d bird!
Rose proudly up before it,
And stream’d upon the lurid air,
A blood-red banner o’er it:
Frowning, and piled up heap on heap,
Dense clouds o’erspread the mighty deep;
Darker, and pitchy black they grew—
And roll’d, and wheel’d, and onward flew
Like marshalling of men.
Then trembled timid souls with fear—
Glisten’d in Beauty’s eye the tear—
And “fatherland” was doubly dear—
But brave hearts quail’d not then.
Saw many a floating shroud on high,
And many a coffin drifting by—
And on the driving gale
Beheld the spirits of the deep,
Above—around—in fury sweep—
And heard the dead’s low wail,
And the demon’s mutter’d curse.
And on the fierce and troubled wind,
Rode Death—and, following close behind,
A dark and sombre hearse.
And soon the barque a wreck was driven,
Before the free, wild winds of Heaven!
Bended was many a knee—
And the last prayer was offer’d up,
God of the deep, to thee!
Mutter’d the angry heavens still,
And murmur’d still the sea—
And old and sterner hearts bow’d down
God of the deep, to Thee!
And still the wreck was onward driven,
Upon the wide, wild sea—
And Man’s proud soul to Fate was given,
Woman’s, O God, to Thee!
Up rose a fearful yell—
Death’s wings flapp’d o’er that sinking deck—
A shudder!—all was still.
Burst on the glittering waters,
Above the deep’s stern-hearted men,
And Earth’s fair sons and daughters:
Naught of or life or death was seen—
And who could say that strife had been!