Seraphim/The Bay of Biscay, O

THE BAY OF BISCAY O!

Loud roar'd the dreadful thunder!
⁠The rain a deluge showers!
The clouds were rent asunder
⁠By lightning's vivid powers!
The night both drear and dark,
Our poor devoted bark,
⁠Till next day,
⁠There she lay,
In the Bay of Biscay O!

Now dash'd upon the billow,
⁠Our opening timbers creak;
Each fears a watery pillow,
⁠None stops the dreadful leak!
To cling to slippery shrouds,
Each breathless seaman crowds,
⁠As she lay,
⁠Till the day,
In the bay of Biscay, O!

At length the wish'd for morrow
⁠Broke through the hazy sky;
Absorb'd in silent sorrow
⁠Each heav'd biter sigh;
The dismal wreck to view
Struck horror to the crew,
⁠As she lay,
⁠On that day,
In the Bay of Biscay, O!

Her yielding timbers sever,
⁠Her pitchy seams are rent,
When Heaven, all bounteous ever,
⁠It boundless mercy sent:
A sail in sight appears,
We hail her with three cheers!
⁠Now we sail,
⁠With the gale,
From the Bay of Biscay, O!

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