"What should we do but sing His praise, That led us through the watery maze, Unto an isle so long unknown, And yet far kinder than our own? Where He the huge sea-monsters wracks, That lift the deep upon their backs, He lands us on a grassy stage, Safe from the storms, and prelates' rage. He gave us this eternal Spring Which here enamels every thing, And sends the fowls to us in care, On daily visits through the air; He hangs in shades the orange bright, Like golden lamps in a green night, And does in the pomegranates close Jewels more rich than Ormus shows; He makes the figs our mouths to meet, And throws the melons at our feet; But apples plants of such a price, No tree could ever bear them twice. With cedars chosen by His hand From Lebanon He stores the land, And makes the hollow seas that roar Proclaim the ambergris on shore; He cast (of which we rather boast) The Gospel's pearl upon our coast, And in these rocks for us did frame A temple where to sound His name. Oh! let our voice His praise exalt, Till it arrive at Heaven's vault, Which thence (perhaps) rebounding may Echo beyond the Mexique Bay." Thus sung they, in the English boat, A holy and a cheerful note: And all the way, to guide their chime, With falling oars they kept the time. ANDREW MARVELL. The passengers and crew of the Sea Venture managed to get to land, and finally built two pinnaces, in which they reached Virginia May 24, 1610. They found the colonists in a desolate and miserable condition, and only the timely arrival of Lord De La Warr in the following month (June 9, 1610), with fresh supplies and colonists, prevented them from burning the town and sailing back to England. Among the passengers on the Sea Venture was one Richard Rich. He shared in all the adventures and hardships of the voyage, and finally got back to England in the fall of 1610. On October 1 he published an account of the voyage, called "Newes from Virginia," the first poem written by a visitor to America. NEWES FROM VIRGINIA [September, 1610] It is no idle fabulous tale, nor is it fayned newes: For Truth herself is heere arriv'd, because you should not muse. With her both Gates and Newport come, to tell Report doth lye, Which did divulge unto the world, that they at sea did dye. Tis true that eleaven months and more, these gallant worthy wights War in the shippe Sea-venture nam'd depriv'd Virginia's sight. And bravely did they glyde the maine, till Neptune gan to frowne, As if a courser proudly backt would throwe his ryder downe. The seas did rage, the windes did blowe, distressèd were they then; Their ship did leake, her tacklings breake, in daunger were her men. But heaven was pylotte in this storme, and to an iland nere, Bermoothawes call'd, conducted then, which did abate their feare.