Page:Betelguese, a trip through hell.djvu/59

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A TRIP THROUGH HELL
51

Augueries of a marching pair,—

Twin demons of unconqueréd Hell!

Spell visions that the soffins leak

That felt the besom of the dead,

Just as the Twilight's scarlet urn

Is seen from heights unfathomed, strong.

There runnels of green waters cold,

Toss lepers from their murky breast;

There venom-oils and tapers burn

To light the way of souls gone wrong,—

Blood-stained each idol's crown of gold

Where battle-wrecks seek figent rest!


To the distant porphyry mount

Where agate torches shine most bright,

And syrinx's float music's charm

O'er the jargling herds of tombed,

A joggling javel begins to count,

With bleary eyes of grayish light,

The rubies on each idol's arm,

And whisper words unto the tombed.