And held him trembling like a prisoned bird.
"Wrought up to frenzy by mishap so dire,
He struck the phantom in his thoughtless rage;
But 'twas like fanning to put out a fire,
And straight his hand was tangled in a cage!
"And then his other tyrant hand he tried
To ease the springs that pressed him ev'rywhere;
His futile blow the Skeleton defied,—
His other hand was taken in a snare!
"Then round his form the dread avenger coiled,