The lee yard-arm the gallant boatswain rides: Each earing to its cringle first they bend, 330 The reef-band [35] then along the yard extend; The circling earings [36] round the extremes entwined, By outer and by inner turns they bind; The reef-lines next from hand to hand received, Through eyelet-holes and roban-legs were reeved; The folding reefs in plaits inroll'd they lay, Extend the worming lines, and ends belay. Hadst thou, Arion! held the leeward post While on the yard by mountain billows tost, Perhaps oblivion o'er our tragic tale 340 Had then for ever drawn her dusky veil; But ruling Heaven prolong'd thy vital date, Severer ills to suffer and relate. For, while aloft the order those attend To furl the main-sail, or on deck descend; A sea, [37] up-surging with stupendous roll, To instant ruin seems to doom the whole: O friends, secure your hold! Arion cries-- It comes all dreadful! down the vessel lies Half buried sideways; while, beneath it tost, 350 Four seamen off the lee yard-arm are lost: Torn with resistless fury from their hold, In vain their struggling arms the yard enfold; In vain to grapple flying ropes they try, The ropes, alas! a solid gripe deny: Prone on the midnight surge with panting breath They cry for aid, and long contend with death; High o'er their heads the rolling billows sweep, And down they sink in everlasting sleep. Bereft of power to help, their comrades see 360 The wretched victims die beneath the lee; With fruitless sorrow their lost state bemoan, Perhaps a fatal prelude to their own! In dark suspense on deck the pilots stand, Nor can determine on the next command: Though still they knew the vessel's armed side Impenetrable to the clasping tide; Though still the waters by no secret wound A passage to her deep recesses found; Surrounding evils yet they ponder o'er, 370 A storm, a dangerous sea, and leeward shore! "Should they, though reef'd, again their sails extend, Again in shivering streamers they may rend; Or, should they stand, beneath the oppressive strain, The down-press'd ship may never rise again; Too late to weather now Morea's land, [38] And drifting fast on Athens' rocky strand."-- Thus they lament the consequence severe, Where perils unallay'd by hope appear: Long pondering in their minds each fear'd event, 380 At last to furl the courses they consent; That done, to reef the mizen next agree, And try [39] beneath it sidelong in the sea. Now down the mast the yard they lower away, Then jears and topping-lift [40] secure belay;