The youth gave his trust to his Maker! Before That path through the riven abyss closed again-- Hark! a shriek from the crowd rang aloft from the shore, And, behold! he is whirl'd in the grasp of the main! And o'er him the breakers mysteriously roll'd, And the giant-mouth closed on the swimmer so bold. O'er the surface grim silence lay dark; but the crowd Heard the wail from the deep murmur hollow and fell; They hearken and shudder, lamenting aloud-- "Gallant youth-noble heart-fare-thee-well, fare-thee-well!" More hollow and more wails the deep on the ear-- More dread and more dread grows suspense in its fear. If thou should'st in those waters thy diadem fling, And cry, "Who may find it shall win it and wear;" God wot, though the prize were the crown of a king-- A crown at such hazard were valued too dear. For never shall lips of the living reveal What the deeps that howl yonder in terror conceal. Oh, many a bark, to that breast grappled fast, Has gone down to the fearful and fathomless grave; Again, crash'd together the keel and the mast, To be seen, toss'd aloft in the glee of the wave. Like the growth of a storm, ever louder and clearer, Grows the roar of the gulf rising nearer and nearer. And it bubbles and seethes, and it hisses and roars, As when fire is with water commix'd and contending; And the spray of its wrath to the welkin up-soars, And flood upon flood hurries on, never ending; And as with the swell of the far thunder-boom Rushes roaringly forth from the heart of the gloom. And, lo! from the heart of that far-floating gloom,[7] What gleams on the darkness so swanlike and white? Lo! an arm and a neck, glancing up from the tomb!-- They battle--the Man's with the Element's might. It is he--it is he! In his left hand, behold! As a sign!--as a joy!--shines the goblet of gold! And he breathed deep, and he breathed long, And he greeted the heavenly delight of the day. They gaze on each other--they shout, as they throng-- "He lives--lo the ocean has render'd its prey! And safe from the whirlpool and free from the grave, Comes back to the daylight the soul of the brave!" And he comes, with the crowd in their clamor and glee, And the goblet his daring has won from the water, He lifts to the king as he sinks on his knee;-- And the king from her maidens has beckon'd his daughter-- She pours to the boy the bright wine which they bring, And thus spake the Diver--"Long life to the king! "Happy they whom the rose-hues of daylight rejoice, The air and the sky that to mortals are given! May the horror below never more find a voice-- Nor Man stretch too far the wide mercy of Heaven! Never more--never more may he lift from the sight The veil which is woven with Terror and Night!