The Queen of the Sea

O Sea, calm, sleeping Sea ! awake, and tell
What o'er thee hath cast this soothing spell ?
'Brightly the young moon is beaming
From her purple throne,
On my waveless breast is gleaming
Radiance all her own/
I have hushed each booming billow,
For her peerless royal brow
Resteth on my glistening pillow
Like a sleeping angel now.'

O Sea, glad and playful Sea ! what meanest thou ?
What do thy white-winged wavelets carol now ?
'Merrily they all are singing,
For with golden hand,
Silver fetters she is flinging
O'er my fairy band.
'Neath them blithely are they dancing,
And her jewels rare and bright
In their waving crests are glancing —
Liquid diamonds of light.'

O Sea, wild, raging Sea ! what horrors dire
Have raised thy maniac wrath, thy frenzied ire ?
'Seest thou not the lightning flashing
From yon lurid cloud ?
Fiercely are my billows dashing,
Foaming, roaring loud,
For the frowning sky is veiling
Darkly o'er their beauteous Queen :
Fury mingleth with their wailing
Till her face again be seen.'