Hunt and Lee, comps. The Book of the Sonnet. 1867.

I. On the Arrival of the Vessel Announcing the Settlement of Differences with America

Henry Ellison (1811–1880)

THERE comes a gallant vessel, in full trim,

Into the haven, high, majestical,

With music in her motion, as if all

The waves, o’er which she doth so lightly skim,

Rose up and sunk in cadence to each whim

And playful fancy of her rise and fall!

The sun is sinking, gilding yon dark pall

Of clouds, whose edges even now grow dim,

Ready to close around the grave of day!

But whence comes she, with sails the sun makes gold,

To fit them golden missions to convey?

Brings she Hesperian fruitage, long foretold,

From the far West? O yes, she comes to say,

She brings its best fruit, Peace, typed in that fable old!