The fitful flare of the moon fled fast,

Like a sickly smile now seeming to wither,

Now dark like a scowl in the hurrying blast

As ominous shadows swept over the roofs

Where white as a ghost the scared moonlight had passed.

Curses came mingled with wails and reproofs,

With doors banging to and the crashing of glass,

With the baying of dogs and the clatter of hoofs,

[64]

With the rush of the river as, huddling its mass

Of weltering water towards the deep ocean,

'Neath many-arched bridges its eddies did pass.

A hubbub of voices in savage commotion

Was mixed with the storm in a chaos of sound,

And thrilled as with ague in shuddering emotion

I fled as the hunted hare flees from the hound.

Past churches whose bells were tumultuously ringing

The year in, and clashing in concord around;

Past the deaf walls of dungeons whose curses seemed clinging

To the tempest that shivered and shrieked in amazement;

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