“Ev’n in this state, she loved the winds that sweep O’er the wild heath, and curl the restless deep; A turf-built hut beneath a hill she chose, And oft at night in winter storms arose, Hearing, or dreaming, the distracted cry Of drowning seamen on the breakers by; For there were rocks, that when the tides were low Appear’d, and vanish’d when the waters flow; And there she stood, all patient to behold Some seaman’s body on the billows roll’d. 120 “One calm, cold evening, when the moon was high, And rode sublime within the cloudless sky, She sat within her hut, nor seem’d to feel Or cold or want, but turn’d her idle wheel, And with sad song its melancholy tone Mix’d, all unconscious that she dwelt alone. “But none will harm her—Or who, willing can? She is too wretched to have fear of man— Not man! but something—if it should appear, That once was man—that something did she fear. 130 “No causeless terror!—In that moon’s clear light It came, and seem’d a parley to invite; It was no hollow voice—no brushing by Of a strange being, who escapes the eye— No cold or thrilling touch, that will but last While we can think, and then for ever past. But this sad face—though not the same she knew, Enough the same to prove the vision true— Look’d full upon her!—starting in affright She fled, her wildness doubling at the sight; 140 With shrieks of terror, and emotion strong, She pass’d it by, and madly rush’d along To the bare rocks—While David, who, that day, Had left his ship at anchor in the bay, Had seen his friends who yet survived, and heard Of her who loved him—and who thus appear’d— He tried to soothe her, but retired afraid T’ approach, and left her to return for aid. “None came! and Rachel in the morn was found } Turning her wheel, without its spindles, round, 150} With household look of care, low singing to the sound. } “Since that event, she is what you have seen; But time and habit make her more serene, The edge of anguish blunted—yet, it seems, Sea, ships, and sailors’ miseries are her dreams.” TALE V. _VILLARS._