A Sicilian Romance

The freshness of morning breathed over the scene, and vivified each

colour of the landscape. The bright dewdrops hung trembling from the

branches of the trees, which at intervals overshadowed the road; and

the sprightly music of the birds saluted the rising day.

Notwithstanding her anxiety the scene diffused a soft complacency over

the mind of Julia.

About noon they reached the port, where Ferdinand was fortunate enough

to obtain a small vessel; but the wind was unfavourable, and it was

past midnight before it was possible for them to embark.

When the dawn appeared, Julia returned to the deck; and viewed with a

sigh of unaccountable regret, the receding coast of Sicily. But she

observed, with high admiration, the light gradually spreading through

the atmosphere, darting a feeble ray over the surface of the waters,

which rolled in solemn soundings upon the distant shores. Fiery beams

now marked the clouds, and the east glowed with increasing radiance,

till the sun rose at once above the waves, and illuminating them with

a flood of splendour, diffused gaiety and gladness around. The bold

concave of the heavens, uniting with the vast expanse of the ocean,

formed, a coup d'oeil, striking and sublime magnificence of the

scenery inspired Julia with delight; and her heart dilating with high

enthusiasm, she forgot the sorrows which had oppressed her.

The breeze wafted the ship gently along for some hours, when it

gradually sunk into a calm. The glassy surface of the waters was not

curled by the lightest air, and the vessel floated heavily on the

bosom of the deep. Sicily was yet in view, and the present delay

agitated Julia with wild apprehension. Towards the close of day a

light breeze sprang up, but it blew from Italy, and a train of dark

vapours emerged from the verge of the horizon, which gradually

accumulating, the heavens became entirely overcast. The evening shut

in suddenly; the rising wind, the heavy clouds that loaded the

atmosphere, and the thunder which murmured afar off terrified Julia,

and threatened a violent storm.

The tempest came on, and the captain vainly sounded for anchorage: it

was deep sea, and the vessel drove furiously before the wind. The

darkness was interrupted only at intervals, by the broad expanse of

vivid lightnings, which quivered upon the waters, and disclosing the

horrible gaspings of the waves, served to render the succeeding

darkness more awful. The thunder, which burst in tremendous crashes

above, the loud roar of the waves below, the noise of the sailors, and

the sudden cracks and groanings of the vessel conspired to heighten

the tremendous sublimity of the scene. Far on the rocky shores the surges sound,

The lashing whirlwinds cleave the vast profound;

While high in air, amid the rising storm,

Driving the blast, sits Danger's black'ning form.