Page:Ambarvalia - Clough (1849).djvu/90



— into the black night Ran the black boat. A shudder and a snort, A flash, and forth it ran. Went all my hope with it.

A moment, and a sudden foolish joy O'erswept me that the black boat should not go— A moment while it hung upon its poise And seemed it could not start; the sleepy waters Clogged so its fans (how did I love those waters!) Which with a strong will soon—alas!— Grinding their clog to smoke, made opposition Into assistance. Forth it went, my hope with it.

Forth ran the black boat into the black blank; But still on board there burned a living light: My hope burned with it. For a time, too short, It kept the dark at bay; then more and more That cheery, warm, recognisable spot Narrowed, each breathless moment more and more, Till so the vast o'ercrept it, that it now Was but a shapeless patch on the black plane— Now but a star that night, respecting, hates—