So the night fell but brought no stay to storm; Fresh fury rather every darkening hour.
The dismal daylight dawned, and wind and wave, Gnashing white teeth of foam, all round the ship Howled like wild beasts defeated of their prey. Then, as to bait those monster ravening mouths, They portion of the lading overboard Fling, in the hope that lightened so the bark Springing more buoyant may outride the storm.
But the storm thickened as the third day dawned, And not the crew alone but all on board Worked the ship's gear in the increasing gale. They thus bestead, the heavens above them lowered Day after day that neither sun nor stars One instant flickered in the firmament; The blotted blackness made one dreadful night Of day and night confounded in the gloom. Hope now went out, last light to leave the sky, Outburning sun and moon and star all quenched Before her in that drowning drench of dark-- Hope too went out, touched by the hand of death.
Then Paul stood forth, himself with fasting faint, Amid those famished faint despairing souls And upward reaching high his hand to heaven, There kindled once again the star of hope. Chiding them fairly that they did not heed His warning word betimes to shun that harm, He gave them cheer that they should yet escape, All should escape with life from this assay; Only the ship must suffer wreck and loss. "The angel of the Lord, that Lord," said Paul, "Whose with all joy I am and whom I serve, As ye have seen, with worship night and day, Stood by me in the night and said to me: 'Fear thou not, Paul; thou art to stand in Rome Before the bar of Cæsar; lo, thy God Hath to thee given all those that sail with thee.' Be of good cheer then, ye; for I believe God that He will perform His word to me. Upon an island look to find us cast."
Full fourteen days the ship went staggering on A helpless hulk amid the Adrian sea, When now the sailors, deeming that they neared Some coast-line, sounded in the midnight dark; Then farther drifting sounded once again To find themselves indeed upon the shoals. Here, fearing to be driven upon rocks, They anchored, and so waiting wished for day.
And now a dastard thing those sailors schemed: Under pretext to cast one anchor more, As to that purpose they let down the boat, Minded therein to steal their own escape Leaving the rest to perish with the ship. But Paul perceived their fraud and subtlety And said to Julius with his soldiery; "Let those men go and _ye_ cannot be saved;" Whereon the soldiers cut the lowering ropes, Sending the boat to surf and reef a prey.