midnight
`` I looked upon the homely garb that told my dwelling-place -- It hung upon me heavily -- a token of disgrace ! I fled the house -- I went to sea -- was by a wretch impressed , The stamp of whose brutality is printed on my breast . `` Like vilest slave he fettered me , my flesh the irons tore -- Scourged , mocked , and worse than buried me upon a lifeless shore , Where human foot had never trod -- upon a barren rock , Whose caves ne'er echoed to a sound save billows as they broke . '' 'T was midnight ; but the morning came . I looked upon the sea , And a melancholy wilderness its waters were to me ; The heavens were black as yonder cloud that rolls beneath our feet , While neither land nor living thing my eager eyes could meet . `` I naked sat upon the rock ; I trembled -- strove to pray ; Thrice did I see a distant sail , and thrice they bore away . My brain with hunger maddening , as the steed the battle braves , Headlong I plunged from the bare rock and buffeted the waves .