And lo! towards us coming in a boat
an old man, grizzled with the hair of eld,
Moaning: “Woe unto you, debased souls!
Hope nevermore to look upon the heavens.
I come to lead you to the other shore;
Into eternal darkness; into fire and frost.
And thou, that yonder standest, living soul,
Withdraw from these people, who are dead!”
But he saw that I did not withdraw...