Page:Poems David.djvu/139

SECOND MERMAID.

The mighty deep no mortal yet
 Hath dared with living foot to tread
Far down beneath our coral halls,
 We safely lay to sleep, the dead.

FIRST AND SECOND MERMAIDS.

The sea boy lies in ocean grave,
 With amber shroud so richly bound;
E'en for an earthly monarch proud,
 Can no such noble tomb be found.
Hath the wide world, midst all her treasures,
 Gold more pure or jewels more rare?
Can ye gather woodland blossoms
 That with living flowers compare?

THIRD MERMAID.

Children of earth, midst our coral caves,
 Our gay and white, our pearl strewn bowers;
We rule amid the bright and tossing main,
 And gather fairest ocean flowers.

FOURTH MERMAID.

Oh! the fair forms of earth and air
 Are by the restless sea outvied;