THE VOICE OF THE WAVES. 66 They are vanished from their place— 66 Let their homes and hearths make moan! But the rolling waters keep no trace Of pang or conflict gone." Alas! thou haughty deep! The strong, the sounding far! My heart before thee dies-I weep To think on what we are! To think that so we pass High hope, and thought, and mind— Even as the breath-stain from the glass, Leaving no sign behind! Sawest thou nought else, thou main, And the sea's voice replied: "Here nobler things have been! Power, with the valiant when they died, To sanctify the scene. Courage in fragile form; Faith, trusting to the last; 65 Prayer, breathing heavenward through the storm; But all alike have passed. E Sound on, thou haughty sea, These have not passed in vain ; Thou, from thine empire driven, May'st vanish with thy powers; But, by the hearts that here have striven, A loftier boon is ours! MRS HEMANS. Written near the Scene of a recent Shipwreck. THE RESPONSE OF THE WAVES. "The sea hath spoken."-(ISAIAH Xxiii. 4.) WHAT are the blue waves saying, Their Maker's glorious might. What are the high waves saying, Adore the wisdom staying Their march with a line of sand. What are the wild waves saying, In concert with the gale? A glance of the All-surveying Would make their proud crests quail. THE RESPONSE OF THE WAVES. What are the hoarse waves saying, In their incessant shocks? That ocean's rod is braying Earth's proudest mountain-rocks. What are the kind waves saying, That nourish both great and small? Through groves and meadows straying, The Lord supports them all. What are the dread waves saying, What are the dark waves saying, As they foam on the miry shore? Such are godless hearts, betraying The shame of their filthy core. What are the deep waves saying, What are the broad waves saying, They long to be conveying To all the word of grace. 67 What are the vexed waves saying, This world is not thy rest. What are the salt waves saying, Season thy speech with grace. What are the strong waves saying, What are the lone waves saying What are the hoar waves saying, J. LONGMUIR. THE SOUND OF THE SEA. 69 THE SOUND OF THE SEA. THOU art sounding on, thou mighty Sea, The ancient rocks yet ring to thee, Oh! many a glorious voice is gone The Dorian flute, that sighed of yore The harp of Judah peals no more On Zion's awful hill; And Memnon's lyre hath lost the chord And the songs, at Rome's high triumphs poured, And mute the Moorish horn, that rang And the hymn that leagued Crusaders sang But thou art swelling on, thou Deep, |