Yet still it blew! As with primeval sway, Still did its ample spirit, night and day, As men departing, tho' not doom'd to die, And midway on their passage to eternity. And again-canto fourth, the continuation of the voyage, Still, as beyond this mortal life impell'd By some mysterious energy, he held Yet who but he undaunted could explore When all was still in the destroying hour No sign of man! no vestige of his power! Light vessels, formerly used by the Spaniards and Portuguese. † F. Columbus, c. 23. Among those, who went with Columbus, were many adventurers and gentlemen of the court. Primero was the game then in fashion. See Vega, p. 2. lib. iii. c. 9. Day, when it came, came only with its light. Then sunk his generous spirit, and he wept. Oft in the silent night-watch doubt and fear Its holy texts and arabesques of gold) Tho' Roldan, sleep and death to him alike, Grasped his good sword, and half unsheathed to strike. "Come on," he cried, and threw his glove in scorn, "Oh! had he vow'd with pilgrim-staff to roam, * His public procession to the convent of Rabida on the day before he set sail. It was there that his sons had received their education; and he himself appears to have passed some time there, the venerable guardian, Juan Perez de Marchena, being his zealous and affectionate friend. The ceremonies of his departure and return are represented in many of the fresco-paintings in the palaces of Genoa. Gonzalo Fernandez already known by the name of The Great Captain. Granada surrendered on the second of January, 1492. Columbus set sail on the third of August following. board. Probably a soldier of fortune. There were more than one of the name on “Or with banditti sought the sheltering wood, Twice the moon fill'd her silver urn with light. "The vain to dream, the wise to doubt shall cease; "And thee restore thy secret to the deep!¶ "Not then to leave thee! to their vengeance cast, "Thy heart their aliment, their dire repast!** "To other eyes shall Mexico unfold "Her feather'd tapestries,†† and roofs of gold! *It is remarkble that these phenomena still remain among the mysteries of nature. †Te tua fata docebo. Virg.-Saprai di tua vita il viaggio. Dante. P. Martyr, Epist. 133. 152. § When he entered the Tagus, all the seamen ran from all parts to behold, as it were some wonder, a ship that had escaped so terrible a storm. F. Columbus, c. 40. I wrote on a parchment that I had discovered what I had promised; and, having put it into a cask, I threw it into the sea. Ibid, c. 37. ** See the Euminedes of Æschylus, v. 305, &c. Clavigero, VII. 52. "To other eyes, from distant cliff descried,* "Chains thy reward! beyond the Atlantic wave "What tho' thy gray hairs to the dust descend, "Not thine the olive, but the sword to bring, 'Here, in his train, shall arts and arms attend, "Arts to adorn, and arms but to defend! "Untouch'd shall drop the fetters from the slave; "And he shall rule the world he died to save! * Balboa immediately concluded it to be the ocean for which Columbus had searched in vain; and when, at length, after a toilsome march among the mountains, his guides pointed out to him the summit from which it might be seen, he commanded his men to halt, and and went up alone. Herrera, I. x. I. I always saw them in his room, and he ordered them to be buried with his body. F. Columbus, c. 86. + One of these, on account of his extraordinary sagacity and fierceness, received the full allowance of a soldier. His name was Bezerillo. § No unusual effect of an exuberant vegetation. The air was so vitiated,' says an African traveller; that our torches burnt dim, and seemed ready to be extinguished; and even the human voice lost its natural tone.' See Washington's farewell address to his fellow citizens. ** North America became instantly an asylum for the oppressed; huguenots, and catholics, and sects of every name and country. Such were the first settlers in Carolina and Maryland, Pennsylvania and New England. Nor is South America altogether without a claim to the title. Even now, while I am writing, the ancient house of Braganza is on its passage across the Atlantic, Cum sociis, natoque, Penatibus, et magnis dis. "Hence, and rejoice. The glorious work is done. ORIGINAL POETRY.-FOR THE PORT FOLIO. TO A ROSE BUD, ON MY STUDY TABLE. ILLFATED bud! and must thou bloom, Where flowery fragrance never breath'd before, Among the ponderous tomes of wights profound. Of one who dearly loves such gift of spring, For I a verse will sing. *See Paradise Lost. X. Cortes, Pizarro.- Almost all,' says Las Casas, have perished. The innocent blood, which they had shed, called aloud for vengeance; the sighs, the tears of so many victims went up before God.' L'Espagne a fait comme ce roi insensé qui demanda que toute ce qu'il toucheroit se convertit en or, et qui fut oblige de revenir aux dicux pour les prier de finir sa misère. Montesq. |