Page:Betelguese, a trip through hell.djvu/51

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A TRIP THROUGH HELL
43

White-heated storms assail all heads—

Triumphal pæons shake the air!

Unnumberéd gawks roam thro' each hall—

Where Typhon sits, a maiden sobs!

Conscience stabs our nightly beds,

Remorse leers daily at dame Care.


A Donga, deep with squirming gnats

And acrid coils,—a hole of Death!

And runnels thick with arid dung,

Flow past a Temple's swoll'n arch,

Where warring tribes of hungry cats

Fish for green lizards filched of breath;

A palace-dome where runes are sung

As Satan views his squadron's march,

Flare twin mineral lights of blue

That lure each legion foul of home.

Swarm Trojans right and left with sword;

Skirr gloppened worriers thro' the night;

Roar puteals that toads eschew;

Hiss brown snakes to each toothless gnome,