The morn grown cold; then small rain 'gan to fall, And all the wind dropped dead, and hearts of men Sank, and their bark seemed helpless now and small; Then suddenly the wind 'gan moan again; Sails flapped, and ropes beat wild about; and then Down came the great east wind; and the ship ran Straining, heeled o'er, through seas all changed and wan. Westward, scarce knowing night from day, they drave Through sea and sky grown one; the Strong Man wrought With mighty hands, and seemed a god to save; But on the prow, heeding all weather nought, The elder stood, nor any prop he sought, But swayed to the ship's wallowing, as on wings He there were set above the wrack of things. And westward still they drave; and if they saw Land upon either side, as on they sped, 'Twas but as faces in a dream may draw Anigh, and fade, and leave nought in their stead; And in the shipmen's hearts grew heavy dread To sick despair; they deemed they should drive on Till the world's edge and empty space were won. But 'neath the Strong Man's eyes e'en as they might They toiled on still; and he sang to the wind, And spread his arms to meet the waters white, As o'er the deck they tumbled, making blind The brine-drenched shipmen; nor with eye unkind He gazed up at the lightning; nor would frown When o'er the wet waste Jove's bolt rattled down. And they, who at the last had come to think Their guests were very gods, with all their fear Feared nought belike that their good ship would sink Amid the storm; but rather looked to hear The last moan of the wind that them should bear Into the windless stream of ocean grey, Where they should float till dead was every day. Yet their fear mocked them; for the storm 'gan die About the tenth day, though unto the west They drave on still; soon fair and quietly The morn would break: and though amid their rest Nought but long evil wandering seemed the best That they might hope for; still, despite their dread, Sweet was the quiet sea and goodlihead Of the bright sun at last come back again; And as the days passed, less and less fear grew, If without cause, till faded all their pain; And they 'gan turn unto their guests anew, Yet durst ask nought of what that evil drew Upon their heads; or of returning speak. Happy they felt, but listless, spent, and weak. And now as at the first the elder was, And sat and told them tales of yore agone; But ever the Strong Man up and down would pass About the deck, or on the prow alone Would stand and stare out westward; and still on Through a fair summer sea they went, nor thought Of what would come when these days turned to nought.