SELECTIONS IN ENGLISH POETRY
And like the moil round a sinking cup
The waters against her crowded up.
A moment the pilot's senses spin.— I00
The next he snatched the Prince 'mid the din,
Cut the boat loose, and the youth leaped in.
A few friends leaped with him, standing near.
'Row! the sea's smooth and the night is clear!'
4 What! none to be saved but these and I ?' 105
*'Row, row as you'd live! All here must die!'
Out of the churn of the chocking* ship,
Which the gulf grapples and the waves strip,
They struck with the strained oars' flesh and dip.
'Twas then o'er the splitting bulwarks' brim 110
The Prince's sister screamed to him.
He gazed aloft, still rowing apace.
And through the whirled surf he knew her face.
To the toppling decks clave one and all
As a fly cleaves to a chamber-wall. nj
I Berold was clinging anear;
I prayed for myself and quaked with fear,
But I saw his eyes as he looked at her.
He knew her face and he heard her cry,
And he said, Tut back ! she must not die !' 120
And back with current's force they reel
EJke a leaf that's drawn to a water-wheel.
308