Page:An epic of women and other poems (IA epicofwomenother00osha).pdf/125

But lo—while each man fixed his eyes on her,
And was himself quite fillèd with the stir
  His heart did make within—
The place was full of devils everywhere:
They came in from the desert and the air;
They came from all the palaces of sin,
  And each heart they were in:

They lurked beneath the purples, and did crawl
Or crouch in unseen corners of the hall,
  Among the brass and gold;
They climbed the brazen pillars till they lined
The chamber fair; and one went up behind
The throne of Herod—fearful to behold—
  The Serpent king of old.

Yea, too, before those blinded men there went
Some even to Salome; and they lent
  Strange charms she did not shun.
She stretched her hand forth, and inclined her ear;
She knew those men would neither see nor hear:
A devil did support her head, and one
  Her steps' light fabric spun.