Oh! never may the moon again disclose me such a sight As met my gaze, when first I look’d, on that accursed night! I’ve seen a thousand horrid shapes begot of fierce extremes Of fever; and most frightful things have haunted in my dreams-- Hyenas--cats--blood-loving bats and apes with hateful stare-- Pernicious snakes, and shaggy bulls--the lion, and she-bear-- Strong enemies, with Judas looks, of treachery and spite-- Detested features, hardly dimm’d and banish’d by the light! Pale-sheeted ghosts, with gory locks, upstarting from their tombs-- All phantasies and images that flit in midnight glooms-- Hags, goblins, demons, lemures, have made me all aghast,-- But nothing like that GRIMLY ONE who stood beside the mast! His cheek was black--his brow was black--his eyes and hair as dark: His hand was black, and where it touch’d, it left a sable mark; His throat was black, his vest the same, and when I look’d beneath, His breast was black--all, all was black, except his grinning teeth. His sooty crew were like in hue, as black as Afric slaves! Oh, horror! e’en the ship was black that plough’d the inky waves! “Alas!” I cried, “for love of truth and blessed mercy’s sake, Where am I? in what dreadful ship? upon what dreadful lake? What shape is that, so very grim, and black as any coal? It is Mahound, the Evil One, and he has gained my soul! Oh, mother dear! my tender nurse! dear meadows that beguil’d My happy days, when I was yet a little sinless child,-- My mother dear--my native fields, I never more shall see: I’m sailing in the Devil’s Ship, upon the Devil’s Sea!” Loud laugh’d that SABLE MARINER, and loudly in return His sooty crew sent forth a laugh that rang from stem to stern-- A dozen pair of grimly cheeks were crumpled on the nonce-- As many sets of grinning teeth came shining out at once: A dozen gloomy shapes at once enjoy’d the merry fit, With shriek and yell, and oaths as well, like Demons of the Pit. They crow’d their fill, and then the Chief made answer for the whole;-- “Our skins,” said he, “are black ye see, because we carry coal; You’ll find your mother sure enough, and see your native fields-- For this here ship has pick’d you up--the Mary Ann of Shields!” MARY’S GHOST. A PATHETIC BALLAD. I. ’Twas in the middle of the night, To sleep young William tried,-- When Mary’s ghost came stealing in, And stood at his bed-side. II. O William dear! O William dear! My rest eternal ceases; Alas! my everlasting peace Is broken into pieces. III. I thought the last of all my cares Would end with my last minute; But tho’ I went to my long home, I didn’t stay long in it. IV. The body-snatchers they have come, And made a snatch at me; It’s very hard them kind of men Won’t let a body be! V.