Margaret Cavendish(1623–1673)

The Sea Similized to Meadows and Pastures: the Mariners, to Shepherds: the Mast, to a May-pole: the Fish, to Beasts

Shepherds: the Mast, to a May-Pole:2 the Fish, to Beasts

T h e waves, like ridges of plow'd land, are high;

W h e r e a t the ship oft stumbling, d o w n doth lie.

But, in a c a l m , the sea's like m e a d o w s s e e n

Level; its saltness m a k e s it look as green.

W h e n ships thereon a slow soft p a c e do walk;

T h e n mariners, as s h e p h e r d s , sing a n d talk:

S o m e whistle, a n d s o m e on their pipes do play;

A n d thus, with mirth, they p a s s their time away.

A n d every m a s t is like a M a y - p o l e high,

Round which they dance, though not so merrily

As s h e p h e r d s do, w h e n they their lasses bring

G a r l a n d s , to M a y - p o l e s tied with a silk string.

I n s t e a d of garlands, they h a n g on their m a s t

H u g e sails a n d ropes, to tie t h e s e garlands fast.

I n s t e a d of lasses, they do d a n c e with D e a t h ;

A n d for their m u s i c , they have B o r e a s 3 breath.

I n s t e a d of wine a n d wassails,4 drink salt tears;

A n d for their m e a t , they f e e d on n o u g h t but fears.

F o r flocks of s h e e p , great schools of herrings swim;

T h e whales, as r a v e n o u s wolves, do f e e d on them.

As sportful kids skip over hillocks green,

So d a n c i n g dolphins, on the waves are seen.

T h e porpoise, like their w a t c h f u l d o g espies,

A n d gives t h e m warning w h e n great winds will rise.

I n s t e a d of barking, he his h e a d doth s h o w

Above the waters, w h e n they roughly flow:

And, like as m e n , in time of show'ring rain

A n d wind, do not in o p e n fields r e m a i n ;

B u t quickly r u n for shelter to a tree:

So ships at a n c h o r lie u p o n the sea.