Remain thou in thy ocean-depths, Delirious dream, That erst so many a night My heart with false joy hast tormented, And now, an ocean-spectre, E’en in bright daylight threaten’st me-- Remain below, eternally, And I’ll throw down to thee there All my sins and my sorrows, And folly’s cap and bells That round my head so long have rattled, And the cold and glistening serpent-skin Of hypocrisy, Which so long hath twined round my spirit, My sickly spirit, My God-denying, angel-denying Unhappy spirit-- Hoiho! hoiho! Here comes the wind! Over the plain so destructive when smooth Hastens the ship, And my rescued spirit rejoices. 12. PEACE. High in the heavens there stood the sun Cradled in snowy clouds, The sea was still, And musing I lay at the helm of the ship, Dreamily musing,--and half in waking And half in slumber, I gazed upon Christ, The Saviour of man. In streaming and snowy garment He wander’d, giant-great, Over land and sea; His head reach’d high to the heavens, His hands he stretch’d out in blessing Over land and sea; And as a heart in his bosom Bore he the sun, The sun all ruddy and flaming, And the ruddy and flaming sunny-heart Shed its beams of mercy And its beauteous, bliss-giving light, Lighting and warming Over land and sea. Sounds of bells were solemnly drawing Here and there, like swans were drawing By rosy bands the gliding ship, And drew it sportively tow’rd the green shore, Where men were dwelling, in high and turreted O’erhanging town. O blessings of peace! how still the town! Hush’d was the hollow sound Of busy and sweltering trade, And through the clean and echoing streets Were passing men in white attire, Palm-branches bearing, And when two chanced to meet, They view’d each other with inward intelligence, And trembling, in love and sweet denial, Kiss’d on the forehead each other, And gazed up on high At the Saviour’s sunny-heart, Which, glad and atoningly Beam’d down its ruddy blood, And three times blest, thus spake they: “Praisèd be Jesus Christ!” * * * * *