He reached her heartstrings with his tender cries.

And silently across the horrid flow,

The shapeless bark and pallid chalklike arms

Of him that oared it, dumbly to and fro,

Went gliding, and the struggling ghosts in swarms

Leaped in and passed, but myriads more behind

Crowded the dismal beaches. One might hear

A tumult of entreaty thin and clear

Rise like the whistle of a winter wind.

And still the little figure stood beside