With ugly thoughts of death and dying throes—
So Echo's voice gave back the watchers' idle word.
As when a leaguering host, under the shroud of night,
Hath sapped a city's wall, and creeping in,
Flashes with sword and fire upon the sleepers' sight,
Who springing, drunk with fear and dazed with din,
Out of their beds, to grope for arms begin—
Arms that should long ere then have been girt on for fight—
So suddenly the Plague hath crept within our gate;
With even such wild yell and hideous note