Grinned up at their terror!—but no, not so!

Fantastic a skeleton, jeweled and wreathed

With flowers of dust; and a miniver

Around it clasped, that the ruin sheathed

Of a once rich raiment of silk and of fur.

I'd have given my life to hear him tell,

The courtly Clifford, how this befell!

He'd have known how it was: For, you see, in groping

For the secret spring of that panel, hoping

And fearing as nearer and nearer drew