That lay beneath the common-shore,—
A dungeon dark and deep,
Where they were wont, in days of yore,55
Offenders great to keep.
There never light of chearful day
Dispers'd the hideous gloom;
But dank and noisome vapours play
Around the wretched room:60
And adders, snakes, and toads therein,
As afterwards was known,
Long in this loathsome vault had bin,
And were to monsters grown.
Into this foul and fearful place,65
The fair one innocent
Was cast, before her lady's face;
Her malice to content.
This maid no sooner enter'd is,
But strait, alas! she hears70
The toads to croak, and snakes to hiss:
Then grievously she fears.
Soon from their holes the vipers creep,
And fiercely her assail,
Which makes the damsel sorely weep,75
And her sad fate bewail.
With her fair hands she strives in vain
Her body to defend;
With shrieks and cries she doth complain,
But all is to no end.80
A servant listning near the door,
Struck with her doleful noise,
Strait ran his lady to implore;
But she'll not hear his voice.
With bleeding heart he goes agen85
To mark the maiden's groans;
And plainly hears, within the den,
How she herself bemoans.