Breathing forth rage in sleep,—at dead of night
From the recesses of these royal halls,
Rang out a cry of wild affright
That heavy on the women's chambers falls.
And dream-interpreters proclaim,
Pledged to the truth, in Heaven's name,
That unavenged 'neath earth, the slain
Against their slayers wrathfully complain.
Strophe II.
Such graceless grace, against the threatened ill
Devising cure, (oh fostering earth!)
The godless woman sends me to fulfil.
To speak the words prescribed I dread; 40
For ah! when blood hath once been shed,
Falling to earth, what ransom can be paid?
Woe for the sorrow-stricken hearth
Woe for the home in ruin laid!
Sunless, of men abhorred, a murky cloud
Doth through the master's fall the dwelling shroud.
Antistrophe II.
The majesty invincible of old,
Matchless, supreme, who filled the ear
Of faithful lieges, and their heart controlled,
Standeth aloof;—Fear reigneth now,
For to Prosperity men bow, 50
Which they as God, ay more than God, revere.
But Justice' stroke some swift doth whelm
