And Japhet said: "How long?
The moon hath grown again in heaven, After her caving twice, since we did leave The threshold of our home; and now what 'vails That far on tumbled mountain snow we toiled, Hungry, and weary, all the day; by night Waked with a dreadful trembling underneath, To look, while every cone smoked, and there ran Red brooks adown, that licked the forest up, While in the pale white ashes wading on We saw no stars ?--what 'vails if afterward, Astonished with great silence, we did move Over the measureless, unknown desert mead; While all the day, in rents and crevices, Would lie the lizard and the serpent kind, Drowsy; and in the night take fearsome shapes, And oft-times woman-faced and woman-haired Would trail their snaky length, and curse and mourn; Or there would wander up, when we were tired, Dark troops of evil ones, with eyes morose, Withstanding us, and staring;--O! what 'vails That in the dread deep forest we have fought With following packs of wolves?
These men of might, Even the giants, shall not hear the doom My father came to tell them of.

Ah, me! If God indeed had sent him, would he lie (For he is stricken with a sore disease) Helpless outside their city ?" Then he rose, And put aside the curtains of the tent, To look upon his father's face; and lo! The tent being dark, he thought that somewhat sat Beside the litter; and he set his eyes To see it, and saw not; but only marked Where, fallen away from manhood and from power, His father lay.

Then he came forth again, Trembling, and crouched beside the dull red fire, And murmured, "Now it is the second time: An old man, as I think (but scarcely saw).
Dreadful of might.

Its hair was white as wool: I dared not look; perhaps I saw not aught, But only knew that it was there: the same Which walked beside us once when he did pray." And Japhet hid his face between his hands For fear, and grief of heart, and weariness Of watching; and he slumbered not, but mourned To himself, a little moment, as it seemed, For sake of his loved father: then he lift His eyes, and day had dawned.

Right suddenly The moon withheld her silver, and she hung Frail as a cloud.