The storm hangs low; the angry lightning glares And menaces destruction to our masts; The Corposant[A] is busy on the decks, The soul, perhaps, of some lost admiral Taking his walks about most leisurely, Foreboding we shall be with him to-night: See, now he mounts the shrouds--as he ascends The gale grows bolder!--all is violence! Seas, mounting from the bottom of their depths, Hang o'er our heads with all their horrid curls Threatening perdition to our feeble barques, Which three hours longer cannot bear their fury, Such heavy strokes already shatter them; Who can endure such dreadful company!-- Then, must we die with our discovery! Must all my labours, all my pains, be lost, And my new world in old oblivion sleep?-- My name forgot, or if it be remember'd, Only to have it said, "He was a madman "Who perish'd as he ought--deservedly-- "In seeking what was never to be found!"-- Let's obviate what we can this horrid sentence, And, lost ourselves, perhaps, preserve our name. 'Tis easy to contrive this painted casket, (Caulk'd, pitch'd, secur'd with canvas round and round) That it may float for months upon the main, Bearing the freight within secure and dry: In this will I an abstract of our voyage, And islands found, in little space enclose: The western winds in time may bear it home To Europe's coasts: or some wide wandering ship By accident may meet it toss'd about, Charg'd with the story of another world. [A] A vapour common at sea in bad weather, something larger and rather paler than the light of a candle; which, seeming to rise out of the sea, first moves about the decks, and then ascends or descends the rigging in proportion to the increase or decrease of the storm. Superstition formerly imagined them to be the souls of drowned men.--_Freneau's note._ PICTURE XVI. Columbus visits the Court at Barcelona _Ferdinand_ Let him be honour'd like a God, who brings Tidings of islands at the ocean's end! In royal robes let him be straight attir'd. And seated next ourselves, the noblest peer. _Isabella_ The merit of this gallant deed is mine: Had not my jewels furnish'd out the fleet Still had this world been latent in the main.-- Since on this project every man look'd cold, A woman, as his patroness, shall shine; And through the world the story shall be told, A woman gave new continents to Spain. _Columbus_ A world, great prince, bright queen and royal lady, Discover'd now, has well repaid our toils; We to your bounty owe all that we are; Men of renown and to be fam'd in story. Islands of vast extent we have discover'd With gold abounding: see a sample here Of those most precious metals we admire; And Indian men, natives of other climes, Whom we have brought to do you princely homage, Owning they hold their diadems from you. _Ferdinand_