Swiftly, swiftly flew the ship Sweetly, sweetly blew the breeze On me alone it blew. O dream of joy! is this indeed Is this the Hill? Is this the Kirk? We drifted o'er the Harbour-bar, And I with sobs did pray"Olet me be awake, my God! "Or let me sleep alway!" The harbour-bay was clear as glass, So smoothly it was strewn! And on the bay the moonlight lay, And the shadow of the moon. The rock shone bright, the kirk no less That stands above the rock : The moonlight steep'd in silentness The steady weathercock. And the bay was white with silent light; Till rising from the same Full many shapes, that shadows were, In crimson colours came.. A little distance from the prow I turn'd my eyes upon the deck— Each corse lay flat, lifeless and flat; A man all light, a seraph-man, On every corse there stood... This seraph-band, each wav'd his hand : It was a heavenly sight: They stood as signals to the land, Each one a lovely light: This seraph-band, each wav'd his hand, No voice did they impart No voice; but O! the silence sank, Like music on my heart. But soon I heard the dash of oars, My head was turn'd perforce away The pilot, and the pilot's boy |
