wrists,
appalling in its promise of intolerable exasperation to raw wounds. Would
she come, as before, with sweet despatch if he could call 'Diadyomene'?
But he would not; because of other ears he would not utter her name; nor
ever because of other eyes entreat her from the cover of the wave. Ah
God, he prayed, give me heart to endure!

His sight was unsteady, so that the whirling of the stars and the
exaggerated swell of the slow waves vexed his failing brain. But he dared
not close his eyes, lest, ignoring her advent, he should lose her and
die.

The disworship of an earlier hour, the comfortless void days, the bitter,
hard reserves, drew form from delirium; they stood in rank, hateful
presences, deriding the outcast: but to pass, he knew, as a sleeper can
know of a dream--to pass when the magic of the sea should flow through
his veins. My past washed out and my soul drowned.

Ah God, he prayed, grant that I remember! Ah God, he prayed, grant
that I forget! Strong hate and strong affection rose dominant in
turn. Stronger rose affection: through waves of delirium the dear
home faces came and looked at him; the reproach of their eyes
pierced deep. What have I done--what can I do? he challenged. God
keep you all, dears! Oh, shut your eyes, there is no other way. And
still they looked--Lois--Giles--Rhoda--sorrow of condemnation,
sorrow of pity, sorrow of amazement; till before their regard he
shrank and shuddered, for they delivered to his conscience a hard
sentence--his God, their God, willed that he should die.

The tide was up to his belt before ever the human soul staggered up to
wrestle. Too swiftly now it rose; too short was the span of life left. He
was not fit to die: evil impulses, passions black as murder, were so live
and strong in him. He could not die--he could not. To be enforced from
mere life were bitter; to choose noble death were bitter; but to choose
such a death as this, pitiful, obscure, infamous, to eschew such a life
as that, glorious, superlative,--too hard, too cruel a trial was this for
human endurance--he could not do it.

Yet he prayed voiceless: Diadyomene, Diadyomene, haste to deliver me; for
the will of God roars against me, and will devour.

For pity, dear faces, keep off, or she may not come. She would quit me of
this anguish--who could will to bear this gnawing fire? They, too, shall
have torment, and die with horrors. The waves shall batter and break,
and sharks shall tear their l