Oh! full often has the glitter of those pale orbs caused a bitter
Burst of sharp and sudden terror to a timid twilight guest!
But to-night their flashes daunt me, and their changing glances haunt me,
And their cold glare shivers through me like a scymitar of ice!
Well I know their threat is seeming—that no life is in their gleaming,
Yet my soul is strangely troubled by my own accurst device!
Ay! my soul is strangely troubled! and my heart-throbs fiercely doubled!
And I cannot wrench my gaze from off those silver demon balls!
To my brain their blaze seems burning—Ah! by Heaven! I saw them turning!
Yes! see—see them! there! they roll! O God! a red light from them falls!