Rushed, thundering, over the frozen land,

And bade him “Stand! or die!”

“Dong—dong!” And the sound of a bell

Went wailing away over meadow and mere—“Eleven!”

Counted aloud by the sentinel clock

On the turret of Time; and the regular beat

Of his echoing feet

Fell—like lead—on the ear—

As he left the dead Hour on its desolate bier.

With his ashen lance in rest,