This abattement and degradation did not take place all at once; it was brought about by degrees, after her calamity, and after many struggles to keep up--as a man who goes overboard hangs on to a spar whilst any hope is left, and then flings it away and goes down, when he finds that struggling is in vain.

This degradation did not take place all at once. It was brought about by degrees, and after many struggles to keep up - as a man who goes overboard hangs on to a spar whilst any hope is left.
