A university press in Melbourne, Australia, wrote to me asking if I know who wrote these lines?  They were told the lines were written by John Donne, but they have not been able to locate the text.  I have asked other Donne scholars about the lines, and the guesses range from George Herbert to Edgar Guest.   The lines don't remind me of Donne,, but they indeed may be hidden away somewhere in his work.  Please let us know if the lines ring familiar.

                                       No hand did aid him, and he aided none.

                                       Alone he breasted the broad wave, alone

                                                       That man was saved.

Helen Brooks