His black men totter'd to and fro,

A leaning, huddled heap of woe;

Then one fell down, then two fell dead;

Yet not one moaning word was said.

They made no sign, they said no word,

Nor lifted once black, helpless hands;

And all the time no sound was heard

Save but the dull, dead, muffled tread

Of shuffled feet in shining sands.

Again the still moon rose and stood