O leave me, leave me, leave me,

Ye three wild fiends!'

The fiends stared down with greedy eye,

Fanning the chill air duskily,

'Twixt their hoods they stoop and cry:—

'Shall we smooth the path before you,

You old grey man?

Sprinkle it green with gilded showers,

Strew it o'er with painted flowers?

Shall we blow sweet airs on it,