Andrew Marvell (1621-1678)
Bermudas
1Where the remote Bermudas ride
2In th' ocean's bosom unespy'd,
3From a small boat, that row'd along,
4The list'ning winds receiv'd this song.
5 What should we do but sing his praise
6That led us through the wat'ry maze
7Unto an isle so long unknown,
8And yet far kinder than our own?
9Where he the huge sea-monsters wracks,
10That lift the deep upon their backs,
11He lands us on a grassy stage,
12Safe from the storm's and prelates' rage.
13He gave us this eternal spring
14Which here enamels everything,
15And sends the fowls to us in care,
16On daily visits through the air.
17He hangs in shades the orange bright,
18Like golden lamps in a green night;
19And does in the pomegranates close
20Jewels more rich than Ormus shows.
21He makes the figs our mouths to meet
22And throws the melons at our feet,
23But apples plants of such a price,
24No tree could ever bear them twice.
25With cedars, chosen by his hand,
26From Lebanon, he stores the land,
27And makes the hollow seas that roar
28Proclaim the ambergris on shore.
29He cast (of which we rather boast)
30The Gospel's pearl upon our coast,
31And in these rocks for us did frame
32A temple, where to sound his name.
33Oh let our voice his praise exalt,
34Till it arrive at heaven's vault;
35Which thence (perhaps) rebounding, may
36Echo beyond the Mexic Bay.
37 Thus sung they in the English boat
38An holy and a cheerful note,
39And all the way, to guide their chime,
40With falling oars they kept the time.
Notes
20] Ormus: Hormuz, a wealthy town on the Persian gulf.
23] apples: pineapples.
Online text copyright © 2009, Ian Lancashire (the Department of English) and the University of Toronto.
Published by the Web Development Group, Information Technology Services, University of Toronto Libraries.
Original text: Andrew Marvell, Miscellaneous Poems, ed. Mary Marvell (1681). Facs. edn.: Scolar Press, 1969. PR 3546 A1 1681A ROBA.
First publication date:
1681
RPO poem editor: N. J. Endicott
RP edition: 3RP 1.353-54.
Recent editing: 4:2002/2/23
Composition date note: Probably written about 1653
Form: Short Couplets
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