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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE TEMPEST by CHARLES COTTON

Poet Analysis

First Line: STANDING UPON THE MARGENT OF THE MAIN
Last Line: AND BE AS MERCIFUL AS THOU ART CHASTE.
Subject(s): SEA; OCEAN;
I

STANDING upon the margent of the Main,
Whilst the high boiling tide came tumbling in,
I felt my fluctuating thoughts maintain
As great an ocean, and as rude, within;
As full of waves, of depths, and broken grounds,
As that which daily laves her chalky bounds.

II

Soon could my sad imagination find
A parallel to this half world of flood,
An ocean by my walls of earth confined,
And rivers in the channels of my blood:
Discovering man, unhappy man, to be
Of this great frame Heaven's epitome.

III

There pregnant Argosies with full sails ride,
To shoot the gulfs of sorrow and despair,
Of which the Love no pilot has to guide,
But to her sea-born mother steers by pray'r,
When, oh! the hope her anchor lost, undone,
Rolls at the mercy of the regent moon.

IV

'Tis my ador'd Diana, then must be
The guid'ress to this beaten bark of mine,
'Tis she must calm and smooth this troubled sea,
And waft my hope over the vaulting brine:
Call home thy venture Dian then at last,
And be as merciful as thou art chaste.



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