All Ceyx his Alcyone employs, For her he grieves, yet in her absence joys; His wife he wishes, and would still be near, Not her with him, but wishes him with her: Now with last looks he seeks his native shore, Which fate has destined him to see no more; He sought, but, in the dark tempestuous night, He knew not whither to direct his sight; So whirl the seas, such darkness blinds the sky, That the black night receives a deeper dye.

The giddy ship ran round, the tempest tore Her mast, and overboard the rudder bore; One billow mounts, and with a scornful brow, Proud of her conquest gain’d, insults the waves below; Nor lighter falls, than if some giant tore Pindus and Athos with the freight they bore, And toss’d on seas, press’d with the ponderous blow, Down sinks the ship within the abyss below; Down with the vessel sink into the main The many, never more to rise again. Some few on scatter’d planks, with fruitless care, Lay hold, and swim, but while they swim despair.