Around you lie the bones, whence famine stares,

Of many knights. And would to God that soon

My liberated ghost might see the moon

Freed from the horror of this prisonment!"

With that he sighed, and round the dungeon went

A rustling sigh, as of the damned; and so

Another dim, thin voice complained their woe:

"Know, he doth starve us to obtain this end:

Because not one of us his strength will lend

To battle for what still he calls his rights,