My ship is sailing onward. In earlier days I had many barks which sailed
from shore; they were freighted with the richest goods, and made me very
anxious. So my argosies went sailing, but they never came again. One bore
my poem, which I thought would make me very celebrated, but the ship was
lost. Another was to bring me back a cargo of such beautiful
things--things which make life delightful to so many!--pearls, and silks,
and wines, and gold-laced suits--garters, rosettes, and slips of ribbon
to be worn at the button-hole. This, too, was lost, and yet it did not
grieve me much. The third caused me more regret; I do not think I have yet
wholly recovered from its loss. It bore a maiden with sunny hair, and the
tenderest, sweetest eyes! She said she loved me--yes a thousand times! and
I--I loved her long and dearly. But the ship in which she sailed went
down--the strong, good ship, as I regarded it. She died thus,--did she
not?--or is it true that she was married to a richer suitor far away from
me in foreign lands?... These are foolish tears--let me not think of her
with want of charity; she was only a woman, and we men are often very
weak. ONE over all, is alone great and good. So, beautiful
ship!--I say--that sailed across my path in youth, sail on in peace and
happiness! A lonely bark, lonely but not unhappy, sees you, on the
distant, happy seas, and the pennon floats from the peak in amicable
greeting and salute. Hail and farewell! Heaven send the ship a happy
voyage, and a welcome home!

This little soliloquy perhaps wearies you; it is ended. Let us sail for an
hour or so on the silver wave; my new pleasure-boat is rocking here
beneath in the shadow of the oak. She is built for speed. See how
gracefully she falls and rises, like a variegated leaf upon the
waves--how the slender prow curves upward--how the gaily-colored sides are
mirrored in the limpid surface of the joyous stream! Come, let us step