Seraphim/The Bay of Biscay, O

THE BAY OF BISCAY O!

Loud roar'd the dreadful thunder!
The rain a deluge showers!
The clouds were rent asunder
By lightning's vivid powers!
The night both drear and dark,
Our poor devoted bark,
Till next day,
There she lay,
In the Bay of Biscay O!

Now dash'd upon the billow,
Our opening timbers creak;
Each fears a watery pillow,
None stops the dreadful leak!
To cling to slippery shrouds,
Each breathless seaman crowds,
As she lay,
Till the day,
In the bay of Biscay, O!

At length the wish'd for morrow
Broke through the hazy sky;
Absorb'd in silent sorrow
Each heav'd biter sigh;
The dismal wreck to view
Struck horror to the crew,
As she lay,
On that day,
In the Bay of Biscay, O!

Her yielding timbers sever,
Her pitchy seams are rent,
When Heaven, all bounteous ever,
It boundless mercy sent:
A sail in sight appears,
We hail her with three cheers!
Now we sail,
With the gale,
From the Bay of Biscay, O!

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