He tells a tale with whisper'd breath

Of skin-clad men who track'd this shore,

Once populous with sea-set town,

And saw a woman wondrous fair,

And, wooing, follow'd her far down

Through burning sands to certain death;

And then he catches short his breath.

He tells: Nay, this is all too long;

Enough. The old man shakes his hair

When he is done, and shuts his eyes,