at sunrise the following morning.

When winds that move not its calm surface, sweep

The azure sea, I love the land no more;

The smiles of the serene and tranquil deep

Tempt my unquiet mind--

Thus said Adrian, quoting a translation of Moschus's poem, as in the clear

morning light, we rowed over the Laguna, past Lido, into the open sea--I

would have added in continuation,

But when the roar

Of ocean's gray abyss resounds, and foam

Gathers upon the sea, and vast waves burst--

But my friends declared that such verses were evil augury;

so in cheerful mood we left the shallow waters, and, when

out at sea, unfurled our sails to catch the favourable breeze.

The laughing morning air filled them, while sun-light bathed earth, sky and

ocean--the placid waves divided to receive our keel, and playfully kissed

the dark sides of our little skiff, murmuring a welcome; as land receded,

still the blue expanse, most waveless, twin sister to the azure empyrean,

afforded smooth conduct to our bark. As the air and waters were tranquil

and balmy, so were our minds steeped in quiet. In comparison with the

unstained deep, funereal earth appeared a grave, its high rocks and stately

mountains were but monuments, its trees the plumes of a herse, the brooks

576

The Last Man