Part and parcel of the Mardian isles², they formed a cluster by

 

themselves; like the Pleiades, that shine in Taurus, and are eclipsed by the red splendor³ of his fiery⁴ eye, and the thick clusterings of the constellations⁵ round.

 

And as in Orion, to some old king-astronomer,—say, King of Rigel, or Betelguese,—this Earth's four quarters show but four points afar; so, seem they to terrestrial eyes, that broadly sweep the spheres.

 

And, as the sun, by influence divine, wheels through the Ecliptic; threading Cancer, Leo, Pisces, and Aquarius; so, by some mystic impulse am I moved, to this fleet progress, through the groups in white-reefed Mardi's zone.

 

Oh, reader, list! I've chartless voyaged. With compass and the lead, we had not found these Mardian Isles. Those who boldly launch, cast off all cables; and turning from the common breeze, that's fair for all, with their own breath, fill their own sails. Hug the shore, naught⁶ new is seen; and "Land ho!" at last was sung, when a new world was sought.

 

That voyager steered⁷ his bark through seas, untracked before; ploughed his own path mid⁸ jeers⁹; though with a heart that oft was heavy with the thought, that he might only be too bold, and grope where land was none.

 

So I.

 

And though essaying but a sportive sail, I was driven from my course, by a blast resistless; and ill-provided, young, and bowed to the brunt of things before my prime, still fly before the gale;—hard have I. — striven to keep

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