And thence, in fell dismay, they laments uttered, sore.
Their scarlet skins, the second day, told plainer still,
Time for repentance was but short, and hope was nil.
The blackened faces, on the third day, clearly told
The prophet’s threat was strictly true. Their blood ran cold.295
Thus being brought to quit their menaces and scowls;
Upon their knees, hams, breasts, they crouched like roosting fowls.
This cringing posture has that abject, trembling crew,
In holy writ, inspired, dubbed “crouching;”[304] and ’tis true.
(Kneel, thou, at times when by instructors thou art taught,