The sea-gull wheel'd in circles low,
And, screaming, skimm'd the wintry tide;
The evening blast began to blow,
And up the steep clifts rifted side,
In broken foam, the white surge drove,
And back recoil'd, with rushing sound;
When, on the precipice above,
With haggard eyes, and locks unbound,
Stood M ARY — once the fairest maid —
And chastest wife on Cornwall's shore,
Till lost her spouse — herself betray'd,
And fair and virtuous now no more!
Down on the crumbling rock she kneel'd,
O'er which the waving samphire grew;
And, while her aching bosom swell'd,
Her ring she from her finger drew.
" O! golden pledge of early love!
" Thou promise of connubial bliss!
" Upbraid me not! " she cried — " nor prove
" How ill this soul sustains distress.
" Whene'er thy glittering form I view,
" My heart reproaches me, and cries —
" Could'st thou forget a spouse so true,
" Who first conferr'd this hallow'd prize?
" And ere soft April's dewy hand
" Had twice bestrew'd with flow'rs his grave,
" Submit thee to Seduction bland —
" The dupe of Vice, and Passion's slave!
" Accurst by Heav'n, and Woman-kind,
" For ever be that Traitor vile,
" Who turn'd from innocence my mind,
" And dared my easy faith beguile!
" O! golden pledge of happier times!
" Thou promise sweet of wedded bliss —
" No more reproach me with my crimes,
" Nor aggravate my soul's distress!
" Now dear, belov'd, dishonour'd pledge!
" I lay thee, thus, on this rude stone,
" That gazers o'er this fearful ridge,
" Might learn, from thee, that I am gone!
" Here witness thou how M ARY fell,
" To expiate her foul disgrace;
" And soon to her Betrayer tell
" The tale that Time shall ne'er efface! "
She clasp'd her hands — she rais'd her eyes,
In bitterest anguish of despair;
Wild was the ocean — dark the skies!
No hope remain'd — no help was near!
Down — down she plung'd — The dashing wave
Receiv'd her on its murmuring breast;
And, rolling back, the gulfy grave
Compos'd her struggling heart to rest!
And, screaming, skimm'd the wintry tide;
The evening blast began to blow,
And up the steep clifts rifted side,
In broken foam, the white surge drove,
And back recoil'd, with rushing sound;
When, on the precipice above,
With haggard eyes, and locks unbound,
Stood M ARY — once the fairest maid —
And chastest wife on Cornwall's shore,
Till lost her spouse — herself betray'd,
And fair and virtuous now no more!
Down on the crumbling rock she kneel'd,
O'er which the waving samphire grew;
And, while her aching bosom swell'd,
Her ring she from her finger drew.
" O! golden pledge of early love!
" Thou promise of connubial bliss!
" Upbraid me not! " she cried — " nor prove
" How ill this soul sustains distress.
" Whene'er thy glittering form I view,
" My heart reproaches me, and cries —
" Could'st thou forget a spouse so true,
" Who first conferr'd this hallow'd prize?
" And ere soft April's dewy hand
" Had twice bestrew'd with flow'rs his grave,
" Submit thee to Seduction bland —
" The dupe of Vice, and Passion's slave!
" Accurst by Heav'n, and Woman-kind,
" For ever be that Traitor vile,
" Who turn'd from innocence my mind,
" And dared my easy faith beguile!
" O! golden pledge of happier times!
" Thou promise sweet of wedded bliss —
" No more reproach me with my crimes,
" Nor aggravate my soul's distress!
" Now dear, belov'd, dishonour'd pledge!
" I lay thee, thus, on this rude stone,
" That gazers o'er this fearful ridge,
" Might learn, from thee, that I am gone!
" Here witness thou how M ARY fell,
" To expiate her foul disgrace;
" And soon to her Betrayer tell
" The tale that Time shall ne'er efface! "
She clasp'd her hands — she rais'd her eyes,
In bitterest anguish of despair;
Wild was the ocean — dark the skies!
No hope remain'd — no help was near!
Down — down she plung'd — The dashing wave
Receiv'd her on its murmuring breast;
And, rolling back, the gulfy grave
Compos'd her struggling heart to rest!