A VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD. EMBLEM of eternity, Unbeginning, endless sea! Let me launch my soul on thee. Sail, nor keel, nor helm, nor oar, Need I, ask I, to explore Thine expanse from shore to shore. By a single glance of thought, Thy whole realm's before me brought, All thine aspects now I view, Ever old, yet ever new, -Time nor tide thy power subdue. All thy voices now I hear; Sounds of gladness, grandeur, fear, Meet and mingle in mine ear. All thy wonders are reveal'd, Treasures hidden in thy field, From the birth of nature seal'd. But thy depths I search not now, Nor thy liquid surface plow With a billow-breaking prow. Eager fancy, unconfined, In a voyage of the mind, Sweeps along thee like the wind. Here a breeze, I skim thy plain, There a tempest, pour amain Thunder, lightning, hail, and rain. Where the surges never roll Round the undiscover'd pole, Thence set out, my venturous soul! See o'er Greenland, cold and wild, Rocks of ice eternal piled, Yet the mother loves her child, And the wildernesses drear To the native's heart are dear; All love's charities dwell here. Next on lonely Labrador, Let me hear the snow-storms roar, |