The Silent Tower of Bottreaux

Tintadgel bells ring o'er the tide,
The boy leans on his vessel's side ;
He hears that sound, and dreams of home
Soothe the wild orphan of the foam.

" Come to thy God in time ! "
Thus saith their pealing chime :
" Youth, manhood, old age past,
" Come to thy God at last."

But why are Bottreaux' echoes still ?
Her Tower stands proudly on the hill ;
Yet the strange chough that home hath found,
The lamb lies sleeping on the ground.

" Come to thy God in time ! "
Should be her answering chime :
" Come to thy God at last ! "
Should echo on the blast.

The ship rode down with courses free,
The daughter of a distant sea :
Her sheet was loose, her anchor stored,
The merry Bottreaux bells on board.

" Come to thy God in time ! "
Rung out Tintadgel chime ;
" Youth, manhood, old age past,
" Come to thy God at last ! "

The pilot heard his native bells
Hang on the breeze in fitful swells ;
" Thank God ! " with reverent brow he cried,
" We'll make the shore with evening's tide."

" Come to thy God in time ! "
It was his marriage chime :
" Youth, manhood, old age past,"
His bell must ring at last.

" Thank God, thou whining knave ! on land,
" But thank, at sea, the steersman's hand,"
" The captain's voice above the gale —
" Thank the good ship and ready sail,"

" Come to thy God in time ! "
Sad grew the boding chime :
" Come to thy God at last ! "
Boom'd heavy on the blast.

Uprose that sea ! as if it heard
The mighty Master's signal-word :
What thrills the captain's whitening lip?
The death-groans of his sinking ship.

" Come to thy God in time ! "
Swung deep the funeral chime :
" Grace, mercy, kindness past,
" Come to thy God at last ! "

Long did the rescued pilot tell —
When grey hairs o'er his forehead fell,
While those around would hear and weep —
That fearful judgment of the deep,

" Come to thy God in time ! "
He read his native chime :
" Youth, manhood, old age past,"
His bell rang out at last.

Still when the storm of Bottreaux' waves
Is wakening in his weedy caves :
Those bells, that sullen surges hide,
Peal their deep notes beneath the tide :

" Come to thy God in time ! "
Thus saith the ocean chime :
" Storm, billow, whirlwind past,
" Come to thy God at last ! "