Volume 2 — MOTHER
Reading edition
She gave me courage when I weakly said, "O see how drifting, derelict, am I! The tide runs counter, and the wind is high; I see no channel through the rocks ahead.
My arm is impotent; what worth to trim The bending sails! Look, I shall quaff a cup To Fate, while the wild ocean swallows up The shipwrecked youth, the man who lives in him."
She said: "But thou hast valour, dear, too much For such as this; thou hast grave embassy, Given with thy birth; would'st thou thine honour smutch
With coward failing? Dear son, breast the sea." Firm-purposed from that hour, through wind and wave, I brought my message till thou shelter gave.