What mortal his own doom may guess? May see our coursers graze at ease Had I such welcome for a river As I shall yield when safely there. The Hetman threw His eyes the hastening slumbers steep. THE DESTRUCTION OF SENNACHERIB 855 860 865 The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold, And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold; And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea, When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee. 5 Like the leaves of the forest when Summer is green, That host with their banners at sunset were seen: Like the leaves of the forest when Autumn hath blown, That host on the morrow lay withered and strown. For the Angel of Death spread his wings on the blast, And breathed in the face of the foe as he passed; 10 And the eyes of the sleepers waxed deadly and chill, And their hearts but once heaved, and forever grew still! And there lay the steed with his nostril all wide, And there lay the rider distorted and pale, 20 And the widows of Ashur are loud in their wail, JOHN KEATS THE EVE OF ST. AGNES ST. AGNES' EVE Ah, bitter chill it was! Numb were the Beadsman's fingers, while he told 5 Like pious incense from a censer old, Seem'd taking flight for heaven, without a death, Past the sweet Virgin's picture, while his prayer he saith. II His prayer he saith, this patient, holy man; The sculptured dead, on each side, seem to freeze, To think how they may ache in icy hoods and mails. III Northward he turneth through a little door, 10 15 And scarce three steps, ere Music's golden tongue 20 Flatter'd to tears this aged man and poor; But no already had his death-bell rung; The joys of all his life were said and sung: His was harsh penance on St. Agnes' Eve: Another way he went, and soon among Rough ashes sat he for his soul's reprieve, And all night kept awake, for sinners' sake to grieve. IV That ancient Beadsman heard the prelude soft; Stared, where upon their heads the cornice rests, 35 With hair blown back, and wings put crosswise on their breasts. V At length burst in the argent revelry, The brain, new-stuff'd, °in youth, with triumphs gay 40 And turn, sole-thoughted, to one Lady there, Whose heart had brooded, all that wintry day, On love, and wing'd St. Agnes' saintly care, As she had heard old dames full many times declare. 45 VI They told her how, upon St. Agnes' Eve,° If ceremonies due they did aright; As, supperless to bed they must retire, And couch supine their beauties, lily white; Of Heaven with upward eyes for all that they desire. VII Full of this whim was thoughtful Madeline: Came many a tiptoe, amorous cavalier, And back retired; not cool'd by high disdain, But she saw not: her heart was otherwhere; She sigh'd for Agnes' dreams, the sweetest of the year. VIII She danced along with vague, regardless eyes, 'Mid looks of love, defiance, hate, and scorn, IX So, purposing each moment to retire, 70 70 75 |