The giddy Ship ran round; the Tempest tore
Her Mast, and over-board the Rudder bore.
One Billow mounts, and with a scornful Brow,
Proud of her Conquest gain'd, insults the Waves below;
Nor lighter falls, than if some Giant tore
Pindus and Athos with the Freight they bore,
And toss'd on Seas; press'd with the pond'rous Blow,
Down sinks the Ship within th' Abyss below:
Down with the Vessel sink into the Main
The many, never more to rise again.
Some few on scatter'd Planks, with fruitless Care,
Lay hold and swim, but while they swim, despair.
Ev'n he who late a Scepter did command,
Now grasps a floating Fragment in his Hand;
And while he struggles on the stormy Main,
Invokes his Father, and his Wife's, in vain.
But yet his Consort is his greatest Care;
Alcyone he names amidst his Pray'r;
Names as a Charm against the Waves and Wind;
Most in his Mouth, and ever in his Mind.
Tir'd with his Toil, all Hopes of Safety past,
From Pray'rs to Wishes he descends at last;
That his dead Body, wafted to the Sands,
Might have its Burial from her friendly Hands.
As oft as he can catch a Gulp of Air,
And peep above the Seas, he names the Fair;
And ev'n when plung'd beneath, on her he raves,
Murm'ring Alcyone below the Waves:
At last a falling Billow stops his Breath,
Breaks o'er his Head, and whelms him underneath.
Bright Lucifer unlike himself appears
That Night, his heav'nly Form obscur'd with Tears,
And since he was forbid to leave the Skies,
He muffled with a Cloud his mournful Eyes.
Mean time Alcyone (his Fate unknown)
Computes how many Nights he had been gone,
Ob-
