The head, with doubling canvas fenced around, In balance near the lofty peak they bound; The reef enwrapp'd, the inserting knittles tied, The halyards throat and peak are next applied-- The order given, the yard aloft they sway'd, 390 The brails relax'd, the extended sheet belay'd; The helm its post forsook, and, lash'd a-lee, [41] Inclined the wayward prow to front the sea. IV. When sacred Orpheus on the Stygian coast, With notes divine deplored his consort lost; Though round him perils grew in fell array, And Fates and Furies stood to bar his way; Not more adventurous was the attempt to move The infernal powers with strains of heavenly love, Than mine, in ornamental verse to dress 400 The harshest sounds that terms of art express: Such arduous toil sage Dædalus endured In mazes, self-invented, long immured, Till genius her superior aid bestow'd, To guide him through that intricate abode-- Thus, long imprison'd in a rugged way Where Phoebus' daughters never aim'd to stray, The Muse, that tuned to barbarous sounds her string, Now spreads, like Dædalus, a bolder wing; The verse begins in softer strains to flow, 410 Replete with sad variety of woe. As yet, amid this elemental war, Where Desolation in his gloomy car Triumphant rages round the starless void, And Fate on every billow seems to ride; Nor toil, nor hazard, nor distress appear To sink the seamen with unmanly fear. Though their firm hearts no pageant-honour boast, They scorn the wretch that trembles at his post; Who from the face of danger strives to turn, 420 Indignant from the social hour they spurn: Though now full oft they felt the raging tide In proud rebellion climb the vessel's side; Though every rising wave more dreadful grows, And in succession dire the deck o'erflows; No future ills unknown their souls appal, They know no danger, or they scorn it all: But even the generous spirits of the brave, Subdued by toil, a friendly respite crave; They, with severe fatigue alone opprest, 430 Would fain indulge an interval of rest. Far other cares the master's mind employ; Approaching perils all his hopes destroy. In vain he spreads the graduated chart, And bounds the distance by the rules of art; Across the geometric plane expands The compasses to circumjacent lands: Ungrateful task! for, no asylum found, Death yawns on every leeward shore around.-- While Albert thus, with horrid doubts dismay'd, 440 The geometric distances survey'd; On deck the watchful Rodmond cries aloud, Secure your lives! grasp every man a shroud--