Alfred H. Miles, ed. Women Poets of the Nineteenth Century. 1907.
By Miscellaneous Poems. III. The Treasures of the DeepFelicia Dorothea Hemans (17931835)
W
Thou hollow-sounding and mysterious main?—
Pale glistening pearls, and rainbow-coloured shells,
Bright things which gleam unrecked of, and in vain!—
Keep, keep thy riches, melancholy sea!
We ask not such from thee.
Far down, and shining through their stillness lies!
Thou hast the starry gems, the burning gold,
Won from ten thousand royal Argosies!—
Sweep o’er thy spoils, thou wild and wrathful main;
Earth claims not these again.
Above the cities of a world gone by:
Sand hath filled up the palaces of old,
Seaweed o’ergrown the halls of revelry:
Dash o’er them, ocean! in thy scornful play!
Man yields them to decay.
High hearts and brave are gathered to thy breast!
They hear not now the booming waters roar,
The battle thunders will not break their rest.—
Keep thy red gold and gems, thou stormy grave!
Give back the true and brave!
The place was kept at board and hearth so long,
The prayer went up thro’ midnight’s breathless gloom,
And the vain yearning woke ’midst festal song!
Hold fast thy buried isles, thy towers o’erthrown—
But all is not thine own.
Dark flow thy tides o’er manhood’s noble head,
O’er youth’s bright locks, and beauty’s flowery crown
Yet must thou hear a voice—Restore the dead!
Earth shall reclaim her precious things from thee!—
Restore the dead, thou sea!