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Untitled Article
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Untitled Article
streak ; deeper , still deeper is it tinging ; it bursts , and the ragged edges are fringed in glowing gold , surrounding a field of deepest azure , which widens to an extended plain , changing around its border to a clear pale sea-green , where it joins the purpling and pink clouds , on which are still recumbent a mass of black
mountain-looking vapours , momentarily lighting up with a glare of lowering red , varying with cameleon quickness , and separating into streaks . Look ! look ! they are pierced with golden radiance * the atmosphere is bathed in a flood of light , while darkness is fleeing away . It comes ! it comes ! the god of day has burst his watery bondage ; the flood of heaven is arrested in its course as though it never had been ; the eye may no longer look on the
glowing splendour of the equinoctial beam , but turns to the broad expanse of the waste of waters , on whose placid surface not a ripple , not a spot , not a vestige of life or movement , may be seen . Like an unbroken and faultless mirror is the glassy face of ocean , stilled even to deadness by the power of the falling flood , which soothed its raging fury in mingling with it like an embrace of love . It looks not like the great salt lake ; even now , as the sun glares upon it , it resembles a solid giant crystal .
And yonder work of human hands , the only , the solitary object resting on the bosom of the deep , motionless as the water wherein she is mirrored , yet with a busy hum arising from the mariners , who again crowd her decks ; what is she , whither goes she ? Look on her , and say if aught more lovely ever pressed the bosom of the blue deep , or spread her white wings to a tropic
breeze . Mark that low hull , straight upon the water , with not a single white speck to deform the symmetric outline . Could such a form have been modelled by mere human hands ? See the lovely bow where it breasts the pale green reflected from the metal which sheathes the vessel like an armour ; and cast more than a glance on that clean run and exquisitely moulded counter ,
upward rising like the scornful lip of beauty , as though in mockery that the element whereon she floats should deem it possible to arrest her flight . She looks motionless , yet she is not ^ so . Without a breath of air stirring , still she draws ahead by the mere witchery of shape which the artist has imparted to her . Scarce a fish swims the deep can outstrip her speed , give her but smooth
water and the wind a beam ; yea she can almost gibe the wind in its teeth , when her master puts her on her mettle , and curbs her with the helm . Vain hope were it for any craft on the waters to arre&t her course , against the will of her guide . Theospray alone may track her silvery wake . Look on her again , mark her tall
spars raking aft , end wrought to mathematical precision , not 8 shaving could be taken from them without impairing their accuracy ; strain them either more forward or more aft , and they would be misplaced , Mark the symmetry of her rigging , so perfect , yet so exquisitely adapted , that it looks as though a spider had
Untitled Article
90 Beauty .
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1833, page 90, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2608/page/22/
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