DonJuanandHaidée

Astheydrewnightheland,whichnowwasseen

Unequalinitsaspecthereandthere,

Theyfeltthefreshnessofitsgrowinggreen,

Thatwavedinforest-tops,andsmoothdtheair,

Andfellupontheirglazedeyeslikeascreen

Fromglisteningwaves,andskiessohotandbare—

Lovelyseemdanyobjectthatshouldsweep

Awaythevast,salt,dread,eternaldeep.

Theshorelookdwild,withoutatraceofman,

Andgirtbyformidablewaves;butthey

Weremadforland,andthustheircoursetheyran,

Thoughrightaheadtheroaringbreakerslay:

Areefbetweenthemalsonowbegan

Toshowitsboilingsurfandboundingspray,

Butfindingnoplacefortheirlandingbetter,

Theyrantheboatforshore,—andoversether.

……

Sohere,thoughfaint,emaciated,andstark,

Hebuoydhisboyishlimbs,andstrovetoply

Withthequickwave,andgain,ereitwasdark,

Thebeachwhichlaybeforehim,highanddry:

Thegreatestdangerherewasfromashark,

Thatcarriedoffhisneighbourbythethigh;

Asfortheothertwo,theycouldnotswim,

Sonobodyarrivedonshorebuthim.

Noryethadhearrivedbutfortheoar,

Which,providentiallyforhim,waswashd

Justashisfeeblearmscouldstrikenomore,

Andthehardwaveoerwhelmedhimastwasdashd

Withinhisgrasp;heclungtoit,andsore

Thewatersbeatwhilehetheretowaslashd;

Atlast,withswimming,wading,scrambling,he

Rolldonthebeach,halfsenselessfromthesea:

There,breathless,withhisdiggingnailsheclung

Fasttothesand,lestthereturningwave,

Fromwhosereluctantroarhislifehewrung,

Shouldsuckhimbacktoherinsatiategrave:

Andtherehelay,fulllength,wherehewasflung,

Beforetheentranceofacliff-worncave,

Withjustenoughoflifetofeelitspain,

Anddeemthatitwassaved,perhaps,invain.

Withslowandstaggeringefforthearose,

Butsunkagainuponhisbleedingknee

Andquiveringhand;andthenhelookdforthose

Wholonghadbeenhismatesuponthesea;

Butnoneofthemappeardtosharehiswoes,

Saveone,acorpsefromoutthefamishdthree,

Whodiedtwodaysbefore,andnowhadfound

Anunknownbarrenbeachforburialground.

Andashegazed,hisdizzybrainspunfast,

Anddownhesunk;andashesunk,thesand

Swamroundandround,andallhissensespassd:

Hefelluponhisside,andhisstretchdhand

Droopddrippingontheoar(theirjury-mast).

And,likeawitherdlily,ontheland

Hisslenderframeandpallidaspectlay

Asfairathingaseerwasformdofclay.

HowlonginhisdamptranceyoungJuanlay

Heknewnot,fortheearthwasgoneforhim,

Andtimehadnothingmoreofnightnorday

Forhiscongealingblood,andsensesdim;

Andhowthisheavyfaintnesspassdaway

Heknewnot,tilleachpainfulpulseandlimb,

Andtinglingvein,seemdthrobbingbacktolife,

ForDeath,thoughvanquishd,stillretiredwithstrife.

Hiseyesheopend,shut,againunclosed,

Forallwasdoubtanddizziness;hethought

Hestillwasintheboat,andhadbutdozed,

Andfeltagainwithhisdespairoerwrought,

Andwishditdeathinwhichhehadreposed,

Andthenoncemorehisfeelingsbackwerebrought,

Andslowlybyhisswimmingeyeswasseen

Alovelyfemalefaceofseventeen.

Twasbendingcloseoerhis,andthesmallmouth

Seemdalmostpryingintohisforbreath;

Andchafinghim,thesoftwarmhandofyouth

Recalldhisansweringspiritsbackfromdeath;

And,bathinghischilltemples,triedtosoothe

Eachpulsetoanimation,tillbeneath

Itsgentletouchandtremblingcare,asigh

Tothesekindeffortsmadealowreply.

Thenwasthecordialpourd,andmantleflung

Aroundhisscarce-cladlimbs;andthefairarm

Raisedhigherthefaintheadwhichoerithung:

Andhertransparentcheek,allpureandwarm,

Pillowdhisdeath-likeforehead;thenshewrung

Hisdewycurls,longdrenchdbyeverystorm;

Andwatchdwitheagernesseachthrobthatdrew

Asighfromhisheavedbosom—andhers,too.

Andliftinghimwithcareintothecave,

Thegentlegirl,andherattendant,—one

Young,yetherelder,andofbrowlessgrave,

Andmorerobustoffigure,—thenbegun

Tokindlefire,andasthenewflamesgave

Lighttotherocksthatroofdthem,whichthesun

Hadneverseen,themaid,orwhatsoer

Shewas,appearddistinct,andtall,andfair.

Herbrowwasoverhungwithcoinsofgold,

Thatsparkledoertheauburnofherhair,

Herclusteringhair,whoselongerlockswererolld

Inbraidsbehind;andthoughherstaturewere

Evenofthehighestforafemalemould,

Theynearlyreachdherheel;andinherair

Therewasasomethingwhichbespoke