All the horrors of the past, and all the dreary present time,

Far too sad for prose or rhyme!”

*  *  *  *  *

“Why should I detain you longer? Every day the tie grows stronger,

Binding me to my familiar, who will never say farewell.

I am here to ask your aid, sir, and have somewhat you delay’d, sir,

With my story, I’m afraid, sir, with the sorry tale I tell;

Of this cursed weird grimalkin, this strange history to tell,

Of this visitor from hell.”

*  *  *  *  *