Fowle's New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

Parnassian Spring.

Mr. FALCONER, the author of the SHIPWRECK,
has pictured the dissolution of a vessel with such
accuracy, that we cannot forbear giving an extract
on the subject. - The ALBERT of the poem is the
counter-portrait of the unfortunate Capt. Pierce,
who perished in the Halifax, on the rocks Purbeck.

EXTRACT.

In vain the cords and axes were prepar'd,
For now the audacious seas insult the yard;
High o'er her burst, in terrible cascade,
Uplifted on the surge, to heaven she flies.
Her shatter'd top half buried in the skies.
Then headlong plunging, thunders on the ground.
Earth groans! Air trembles! & the Deeps resound!
Her giant bulk the dread confusion feels,
And quivering with the wound, in torment reels!
--Again she plunges!-- Hark! a second shock
Tears her strong bottom on the marble rock!
Down on the vale of death, with dismal cries,
The fatal victims shuddering roll their eyes,
In wild despair; -- while yet another stroke,
With deep convulsion, rends the solid oak.
At length asunder torn, her frame divides,
And crashing spreads in ruin o'er the tides!
But O, unhappy CHIEF! th' eternal doom
Of Heaven decreed thee to the briny tomb!
What scenes of misery torment thy view!
What painful struggles of the dying crew!
--Ah! with his helpless Children to the last,
Sad refuge! -- ALBERT hugs the floating mast;
His soul could yet sustain the mortal blow,
But droops, alas! beneath superior woe?
For now oft nature's sympathising chain
Tugs his yearning heart with powerful strain;
His faithful wife, forever doom'd to mourn
For him alas! who never shall return!
All faint to Heaven, he throws his dying eyes,
"My children, and my wife protect!" he cries.
The gushing streams roll back th'unfinish'd sound;
He grasps! he dies! he seeks the deep profound!