Proud solitary traverser,

My Soul, of silent lengths of way—

With what ecstatic dread, aver,

Lest life start sanctioned by thy stay!

Ah, but the last sight was the hideous!

A City, yes,—a Forest, true,—

But each devouring each. Perfidious

Snake-plants had strangled what I knew

Was a pavilion once: each oak

Held on his horns some spoil he broke