TO THE NAUTILUS

WHERE Ausonian summers glowing
Warm the deep to life and joyance,
And gentle zephyrs, nimbly blowing,
Wanton with the waves that flowing
By many a land of ancient glory,
And many an isle renown'd in story,
Leap along with gladsome buoyance,
There, Marinere,

Dost thou appear
In faery pinnace gaily flashing,
Through the white foam proudly dash-
ing,

The joyous playmate of the buxom breeze,
The fearless fondling of the mighty seas.

Thou the light sail boldly spreadest,
O'er the furrow'd waters gliding,
Thou nor wreck nor foeman dreadest,
Thou nor helm nor compass needest,
While the sun is bright above thee,
While the bounding surges love thee :
In their deepening bosoms hiding
Thou canst not fear,
Small Marinere,

For though the tides with restless motion
Bear thee to the desert ocean,
Far as the ocean stretches to the sky,
'Tis all thine own, 't is all thy empery.