He tore the pillow from beneath my head,
Tied down my sore attention to the shock, 30
By ceaseless depredations on a life
Dearer than that he left me. Dreadful post
Of observation! darker every hour!
Less dread the day that drove me to the brink,
And pointed at eternity below;
When my soul shudder’d at futurity;
When, on a moment’s point, th’ important die
Of life and death spun doubtful, ere it fell,