Batavia

“Sometimes, circumstances force one to do a great many things one would rather not have to do.” – Jeronimus Cornelisz, at his trial on the island Batavia’s Graveyard, shortly before his death on the gallows in 1629.

Five Bells : All’s Well : It’s 1629, the fourth of June :
Batavia, sea-tossed Eastward, flees the moody setting Moon;
Treasure-laden, on her maiden voyage—Proudest craft afloat ! –
Fifty guns—Three hundred star-crossed souls—And one heroic boat.
Like Cupid’s Bows the silver bow-waves purling at her prow :
The Kiss of Circe, “La Belle Dame Sans Merci” on her brow;