VIII.

And there, in the terrible city,

The panic-struck, terror-crazed city,

The flying and flame-pursued city,

The torch of the North and the West,

A beautiful maiden lay moaning, as many a day she had lain,

In fetters of wearisome weakness, and throbbings of pitiful pain.

The amorous Fire-king came to her—he breathed his hot breath on her cheek;

She fled from his touch, but he caught her, and held her, all pulseless and weak.