THE rocky ledge runs far into the sea,
And on its outer point, some miles away. The light-house lifts its massive masonry, -①A pillar of fire by night,of cloud by day.
Even at this distance I can see the tides, Upheaving, break unheard along its base; -A speechless wrath, that rises and subsidesIn the white lip and tremor of the face.
And as the evening darkens, lo! how bright, Through the deep purple of the twilight air,Beams forth the sudden radiance of its light, With strange, unearthly splendour in its glare.
Not one alone; -from each projecting cape And perilous reef along the ocean"s verge,Starts into life a dim, gigantic shape, Holding its lantern o"er the restless surge.
And the great ships sail outward and return, Bending and bowing, o"er the billowy swells;And ever joyful, as they see it burn,They wave their silent welcomes and farewells.
They come forth from the darkness, and their sails Gleam for a moment only in the blaze;And eager faces, as the light unveils,Gaze at the tower, and vanish while they gaze.
The mariner remembers when a child,
On his first voyage, he saw it fade and sink;And, when returning from adventures wild, He saw it rise again o"er ocean"s brink.
Steadfast, serene, immovable, the same
Year after year, through all the silent night,Burns on for evermore that quenchless flame,Shines on that inextinguishable light!
It sees the ocean to its bosom clasp
The rocks and sea-sand with the kiss of peace; -It sees the wild winds lift it in their grasp,And hold it up, and shake it like a fleece.
The startled waves leap over it; the storm Smites it with all the scourges of the rain;And steadily against its solid formPress the great shoulders of the hurricane.
The sea-bird
wheeling round it, with the din
Of wings and winds and solitary cries,
Blinded and maddened by the light within, Dashes himself against the glare, and dies.
A new Prome"theus,
chained upon the rock,
Still grasping in his hand the fire of Jove,It does not hear the cry, nor heed the shock, But hails the mariner with words of love.
"Sail on!" it says, "sail on, ye stately ships;And with your floating bridge the ocean span;④Be mineto guard this light from all eclipse, -
Be yours to bring man nearer unto man!"
- LONGFELLOW
NOTES
① A pillar of fire, &c.-The light-house is here compared to the cloud which led the children of Israel through the wilderness. (Exodus, xiii. 21.) The resemblance, however, does not go beyond the idea of a "pillar" bearing "fire," and the general notion of guidance implied in its purpose.
② The sea-bird, &c.-It is an interesting fact that sea-birds are often attracted by the raysof a light-house, and dash themselves against the lantern, often breaking the glass as well as injuring themselves. In a single night at Cape de Brehat (Bretagne, France) nine panes were shattered from this cause. On another occasion, at the same place, a wild duck forced its way through two rows of mirrors, and fell upon the lamp. A thousand of these birds were on one occasion caught by the crew of a British light-ship, who made them into a gigantic pie. It is necessary to defend with trellis-work the lights most exposed to visits of this kind. See Light- houses and Light-ships, by W. H. Davenport Adams.
③ Prometheus, a fabled giant in Greek mythology, who was said to have formed menout of clay, and to have given them life by means of fire stolen from Heaven-"the fire of Jove." This provoked the wrath of Jupiter, who ordered him to be bound to a rock on Mount Cau"casus, a vulture being placed near to torment him by preying continually on his flesh.
④ Be mine.... be yours=Let it be my duty-let it be your duty. This is a classical construction.
Compare, in Latin, Est regis, it is (the duty) of the king; Sit meum, be it mine (my duty).