Rings as for death oracular to thy sons

That goes before him on the sea-wind blown

Full of this charge laid on me, to put out

The brief light kindled of mine own child's life,

Or with this helmsman hand that steers the state

60

Run right on the under shoal and ridge of death

The populous ship with all its fraughtage gone

[Pg 4]

And sails that were to take the wind of time

Rent, and the tackling that should hold out fast

In confluent surge of loud calamities

Broken, with spars of rudders and lost oars

That were to row toward harbour and find rest

In some most glorious haven of all the world

And else may never near it: such a song

The Gods have set his lips on fire withal

70

Who threatens now in all their names to bring

Ruin; but none of these, thou knowest, have I

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