"Ever," so she sadly said,
"In the dead of night,
Something wicked, dreamy, dim
Seemed to rise in sight,
Hovered—horrible—about her bed."
Therefore, on each side her pillow
Watched a gray-haired nurse.
In the morning, nothing witnessed!
Princess Haru worse!
Drooping like a root-cut river-willow.
Six new nurses sate about
All with lamps alight.
"Setsunai!" the Princess cries
At the dead of night.
All the nurses sleeping, all the lamps gone out!
Thereupon, her maids fourscore
Kept full watch and ward.
At the "hour of the Rat"
Each maid sleeping hard!
The torches quenched! the Princess weeping sore!
