"And peace went with them, one and all, And each calm pillow spread;

But Guilt was my grim Chamberlain

That lighted me to bed;

And drew my midnight curtains round, With fingers bloody red!

"All night I lay in agony,

In anguish dark and deep;

My fever'd eyes I dared not close,
But stared aghast at Sleep:

For Sin had render'd unto her
The keys of Hell to keep!

"All night I lay in agony,

From weary chime to chime, With one besetting horrid hint,

That rack'd me all the time;

A mighty yearning, like the first
Fierce impulse unto crime!

"One stern tyrannic thought, that made
All other thoughts its slave;
Stronger and stronger every pulse
Did that temptation crave,-

Still urging me to go and see

66

The Dead Man in his grave!

Heavily I rose up, as soon

As light was in the sky,

And sought the black accursed pool

With a wild misgiving eye;

And I saw the Dead in the river bed, For the faithless stream was dry!

66

Merrily rose the lark, and shook

The dew-drop from its wing;

But I never mark'd its morning flight,

I never heard it sing:

For I was stooping once again

Under the horrid thing.