A sheen of phosphorescence on the sea Kindled along the running vessel's side, And drew a trail of brilliance in her wake, Splendid a moment and then vanishing, Devoured by the immensity of dark Which made it for that moment so intense. Paul saw this, less admiring what he saw, Beautiful though it was and wonderful, Than musing what it seemed to mean for him: 'So my soul on her voyage through the world Lights her own pathway as she moves along; Bright ever where she is she makes her place, And ever plunges on into the dark Before her; but her latter end is light!'
Meanwhile, of all the lingerers on the deck Amid that darkness, only two remained. These, as they might, watched him now bending there In wistful gaze over the vessel's side Downward into the waters weird below: Stephen was one; the other, Shimei. But Shimei had crept later on the deck, When the increasing dark veiled all from view Save what was moving or what stood upright; So he knew not of Stephen now reclined, Motionless in a trance of pleasant dream, There where Eunicé left him, when she too With Rachel from the open night retired. The youth had lapped him in a happy muse Of memory of the things they twain that eve Had shared in converse; it was like twilight Prolonging softer the full light of day. Shimei thought darkly: 'Could yon leaning form Lean farther, and embrace indeed the wave He yearns toward, this enticing murky night! There were redemption ready-wrought for me-- Who might be spared, forsooth, accusing whom His own forestalling conscience had condemned, (So it should look!) and forced him on to die. "Vengeance is mine and recompense," as saith Our Moses, hinting of a moment when "Their foot shall slide." Ha! Ha! It fits the case! "Their foot shall slide!" Feet may be brought to slide! The deck is slippery with the spray; a tip Forward above, with a trip backward, so, From underneath'--and Shimei acted out In pantomimic gesture his quick thought; 'An accidental movement, were it seen, But it would not be seen. A fine dark night, No moon, no stars, and the whole hollow sky Ink-black with clouds that when ere long they break Will spit ink-rain into an inky sea! Finger of God! It were impiety Not to obey a pointing such as this.' His propense thought plunged him a step toward Paul. Stephen hereon, stretched out upon the deck, Marking the sinister action of the man Shadowed upon the dark, a denser dark, Noiselessly gathered up his members all, Ready to rush at need to rescue, yet Reserved, alert, to watch and to await, Like leopard couchant tense in poise to spring.