During the wars of York and Lancaster,
That had befall'n us. As we pac'd along 16
Upon the giddy footing of the hatches,
Methought that Gloucester stumbled; and, in falling,
Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard,
Into the tumbling billows of the main. 20
O Lord, methought what pain it was to drown:
What dreadful noise of water in mine ears!
What sights of ugly death within mine eyes!
Methoughts I saw a thousand fearful wracks; 24
A thousand men that fishes gnaw'd upon;
Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,
Inestimable stones, unvalu'd jewels,
All scatter'd in the bottom of the sea. 28
Some lay in dead men's skulls; and in those holes
Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept,
As 'twere in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems,
That woo'd the slimy bottom of the deep, 32
And mock'd the dead bones that lay scatter'd by.
Keep. Had you such leisure in the time of death
To gaze upon these secrets of the deep?
Clar. Methought I had; and often did I strive 36
To yield the ghost; but still the envious flood
Stopt in my soul, and would not let it forth
To find the empty, vast, and wandering air;
But smother'd it within my panting bulk, 40
Who almost burst to belch it in the sea.
Keep. Awak'd you not in this sore agony?
Clar. No, no, my dream was lengthen'd after life;
O! then began the tempest to my soul. 44
I pass'd, methought, the melancholy flood,
20 main: sea
24 wracks: wrecks
26 Wedges: masses
27 unvalu'd: priceless
31 reflecting: shining
37 yield the ghost: i.e. die
envious: malicious
38 Stopt in: kept in
40 bulk: body
45 melancholy flood; cf. n.
