He tried the mayor and aldermen--they all set up a-jeering: He tried the common-councilmen--they too began a-sneering; He turned towards the may'ress then, and hoped to get a hearing. He knelt and seized her dinner-dress, made of the muslin snowy, "To church, to church, my sweet mistress!" he cried; "the way I'll show ye." Alas, the lady-mayoress fell back as drunk as Chloe! XIII. [How the prior went back alone.] Out from this dissolute and drunken court Went the good prior, his eyes with weeping dim: He tried the people of a meaner sort-- They too, alas, were bent upon their sport, And not a single soul would follow him! But all were swigging schnaps and guzzling beer. He found the cits, their daughters, sons, and spouses, Spending the live-long night in fierce carouses: Alas, unthinking of the danger near! One or two sentinels the ramparts guarded, The rest were sharing in the general feast: "God wot, our tipsy town is poorly warded; Sweet Saint Sophia help us!" cried the priest. Alone he entered the cathedral gate, Careful he locked the mighty oaken door; Within his company of monks did wait, A dozen poor old pious men--no more. Oh, but it grieved the gentle prior sore, To think of those lost souls, given up to drink and fate! [And shut himself into Saint Sophia's chapel with his brethren.] The mighty outer gate well barred and fast, The poor old friars stirred their poor old bones, And pattering swiftly on the damp cold stones, They through the solitary chancel passed. The chancel walls looked black and dim and vast, And rendered, ghost-like, melancholy tones. Onward the fathers sped, till coming nigh a Small iron gate, the which they entered quick at, They locked and double-locked the inner wicket And stood within the chapel of Sophia. Vain were it to describe this sainted place, Vain to describe that celebrated trophy, The venerable statue of Saint Sophy, Which formed its chiefest ornament and grace. Here the good prior, his personal griefs and sorrows In his extreme devotion quickly merging, At once began to pray with voice sonorous; The other friars joined in pious chorus, And passed the night in singing, praying, scourging, In honor of Sophia, that sweet virgin. XIV. [The episode of Sneezoff and Katinka.] Leaving thus the pious priest in Humble penitence and prayer, And the greedy cits a-feasting, Let us to the walls repair. Walking by the sentry-boxes, Underneath the silver moon, Lo! the sentry boldly cocks his-- Boldly cocks his musketoon. Sneezoff was his designation, Fair-haired boy, for ever pitied; For to take his cruel station, He but now Katinka quitted. Poor in purse were both, but rich in Tender love's delicious plenties; She a damsel of the kitchen, He a haberdasher's 'prentice.