His keenest arrows as he pass'd.

On, on, the black men slowly drew

Their length, like some great serpent through

The sands, and left a hollow'd groove:

They march'd, they scarcely seem'd to move.

How patient in their muffled tread!

How like the dead march of the dead!

At last the slow black line was check'd,

An instant only; now again

It moved, it falter'd now, and now