XL

4 0 00

XL

She hurried at his words, beset with fears,

For there were sleeping dragons all around,

At glaring watch, perhaps, with ready spears⁠—

Down the wide stairs a darkling way they found.⁠—

In all the house was heard no human sound.

A chain-droopd lamp was flickering by each door;

The arras, rich with horseman, hawk, and hound,

Flutter’d in the besieging wind’s uproar;

And the long carpets rose along the gusty floor.