Two ships upon the steel-blue Arctic seas When day was long and night itself was day, Forged heavily before the South West breeze As to the steadfast star they curved their way; Two specks of man, two only signs of life, Where with all breathing things white Death keeps endless strife. The Northern Cape is sunk: and to the crew This zone of sea, with ice-floes wedged and rough, Domed by its own pure height of tender blue, Seems like a world from the great world cut off: While, round the horizon clasp'd, a ring of white, Snow-blink from snows unseen, walls them with angry light. Now that long day compact of many days Breaks up and wanes; and equal night beholds Their hapless driftage past uncharted bays, And in her chilling, killing arms enfolds: While the near stars a thousand arrowy darts Bend from their diamond eyes, as the low sun departs. Or the weird Northern Dawn in idle play Mocks their sad souls, now trickling down the sky In many-quivering lines of golden spray, Then blazing out, an Iris-arch on high, With fiery lances fill'd and feathery bars, And sheeny veils that hide or half-reveal the stars. A silent spectacle! Yet sounds, 'tis said, On their forlornness broke; a hissing cry Of mockery and wild laugh, as, overhead, Those blight fantastic squadrons flaunted by:-- And that false dawn, long nickering, died away, And the Sun came not forth, and Heaven withheld the day. O King Hyperion, o'er the Delphic dale Reigning meanwhile in glory, Ocean know Thine absence, and outstretch'd an icy veil, A marble pavement, o'er his waters blue; Past the Varangian fiord and Zembla hoar, And from Petsora north to dark Arzina's shore:-- An iron ridge o'erhung with toppling snow And giant beards of icicled cascade:-- Where, frost-imprison'd as the long mouths go, The _Good Hope_ and her mate-ship lay embay'd; And those brave crews knew that all hope was gone; England be seen no more; no more the living sun. A store that daily lessens 'neath their eyes; A little dole of light and fire and food:-- While Night upon them like a vampyre lies Bleaching the frame and thinning out the blood; And through the ships the frost-bit timbers groan, And the Guloine prowls round, with dull heart-curdling moan. Then sometimes on the soul, far off, how far! Came back the shouting crowds, the cannon-roar, The latticed palace glittering like a star, The buoyant Thames, the green, sweet English shore, The heartful prayers, the fireside blaze and bliss, The little faces bright, and woman's last, last kiss. --O yet, for all their misery, happy souls! Happy in faith and love and fortitude:-- For you, one thought of England dear controls All shrinking of the flesh at death so rude! Though long at rest in that far Arctic grave, True sailor hero hearts, van of our bravest brave.