Classic Poem

Tintadgel bells ring o'er the tide,
The boy leans on his vessel's side;
He hears that sound, and dreams of home
Soothe the wild orphan of the foam.
" Come to thy God in time!"
Thus saith their pealing chime:
" Youth, manhood, old age past,
Come to thy God at last."

But why are Bottreaux' echoes still?
Her Tower stands proudly on the hill;
Yet the strange chough that home hath found,
The lamb lies sleeping on the ground.
" Come to thy God in time!"
Should be her answering chime:
" Come to thy God at last!"
Should echo on the blast.

The ship rode down with courses free,
The daughter of a distant sea:
Her sheet was loose, her anchor stored,
The merry Bottreaux bells on board.
" Come to thy God in time!"
Rung out Tintadgel chime:
" Youth, manhood, old age past,
Come to thy God at last!"

The pilot heard his native bells
Hang on the breeze in fitful swells;
" Thank God!" with reverent brow he cried,
" We'll make the shore with evening's tide."
" Come to thy God in time!"
It was his marriage chime:
" Youth, manhood, old age past,"
His bell must ring at last.

Thank God, thou whining knave! on land,
But thank, at sea, the steersman's hand" —
The captain's voice above the gale —
" Thank the good ship and ready sail."
" Come to thy God in time!"
Sad grew the boding chime:
" Come to thy God at last!"
Boomed heavy on the blast.

Uprose the sea! as if it heard
The mighty Master's signal-word:
What thrills the captain's whitening lip?
The death-groans of his sinking ship.
" Come to thy God in time!"
Swung deep the funeral chime:
" Grace, mercy, kindness past,
Come to thy God at last!"

Long did the rescued pilot tell —
When grey hairs o'er his forehead fell,
While those around would hear and weep —
That fearful judgment of the deep.
" Come to thy God in time!"
He read his native chime:
" Youth, manhood, old age past,"
His bell rang out at last.

Still when the storm of Bottreaux' waves
Is wakening in his weedy caves:
Those bells, that sullen surges hide,
Peal their deep notes beneath the tide:
" Come to thy God in time!"
Thus saith the ocean chime:
" Storm, billow, whirlwind past,
Come to thy God at last!"