They doleful called; and answered they The plaintive sea-cows far away,-- The great sea-cows that called from isles, Away across wide watery miles, With dripping mouths and lolling tongue, As if they called for captured young,-- The huge sea-cows that called the whiles Their great wide mouths were mouthing moss; And still they doleful called across From isles beyond the watery miles. No sound can half so doleful be As sea-cows calling from the sea. XXXV. The drowned sun sank and died. He lay In seas of blood. He sinking drew The gates of sunset sudden to, Where shattered day in fragments lay, And night came, moving in mad flame: The night came, lighted as he came, As lighted by high summer sun Descending through the burning blue. It was a gold and amber hue, And all hues blended into one. The night spilled splendor where she came, And filled the yellow world with flame. The moon came on, came leaning low Along the far sea-isles aglow; She fell along that amber flood A silver flame in seas of blood. It was the strangest moon, ah me! That ever settled on God's sea. XXXVI. Slim snakes slid down from fern and grass, From wood, from fen, from anywhere; You could not step, you would not pass, And you would hesitate to stir, Lest in some sudden, hurried tread Your foot struck some unbruised head: They slid in streams into the stream,-- It seemed like some infernal dream; They curved, and graceful curved across, Like graceful, waving sea-green moss,-- There is no art of man can make A ripple like a rippling snake! XXXVII. Abandoned, lorn, the lovers stood, Abandoned there, death in the air! That beetling steep, that blazing wood,-- Red flame! and red flame everywhere! Yet was he born to strive, to bear The front of battle. He would die In noble effort, and defy The grizzled visage of despair. He threw his two strong arms full length As if to surely test their strength; Then tore his vestments, textile things That could but tempt the demon wings Of flame that girt them round about, Then threw his garments to the air As one that laughed at death, at doubt, And like a god stood grand and bare. She did not hesitate; she knew The need of action; swift she threw Her burning vestments by, and bound Her wondrous wealth of hair that fell An all-concealing cloud around Her glorious presence, as he came To seize and bear her through the flame,-- An Orpheus out of burning hell! He leaned above her, wound his arm About her splendor, while the noon Of flood-tide, manhood, flushed his face, And high flames leapt the high headland!-- They stood as twin-hewn statues stand, High lifted in some storied place. He clasped her close, he spoke of death,-- Of death and love in the same breath. He clasped her close; her bosom lay Like ship safe anchored in some bay. XXXVIII.