And the martins, from the edges of its lichen-lidden ledges,

Shimmered through the russet arches where the Light in torn files marches,

Like a routed army struggling through the serried ranks of oak.

IX.

Through my ivy fretted casement filtered in a tremulous note

From the tall and stately linden where a Robin swelled his throat:—

Querulous, quaker breasted Robin, calling quaintly for his mate!

Then I started up, unbidden, from my slumber nightmare ridden,

With the memory of that Dire Demon in my central Fire

On my eye’s interior mirror like the Shadow of a Fate!