The poisons that the geysers spit To apes, where Sin in splendor reigns; And cavern'd shapes that shadows hide Behind tapers, where snarling Doom Glares at Set's tomb, where devils sit, Make vague signs to the weird flames, Flit spastic breath to regions wide And shrood each shrunken soul with gloom. Where glozing parasites hold sway, Seck rivers dry reveal the bones Of ages that the Cyclops slew: Onyx thrones that the Titans storm'd Lie in obfuscating decay; Eyeless skulls that abhorrent gnomes Wield in hands that reek with the dew That solemn Death in tombs hath worm'd, Stare at the scene as willows sigh: And tapers of the Mount's crown'd witch (Whenas each carcant fades from view) Seek shadows that the tombs have cast Upon the conjured, wind blown sky, Where Syrian altar-lamps make rich The palace-domes whereon the dew Sits like a star and beams upon the vast, Phantasmagoric glory of Death, Of godly helms housed in a crypt. And where a livid beacon flares-- (A rock that some giant storm hath split) In mourning robes and rasping breath, Before a grave where devils sit, A Queen at whom a lizard stares, Sobs her grief and woe that tears writ Deep into the phorphyry mount: This, then, is Death's home, vale and Tomb! Where Lancers, made equal with the dust When revolt storm'd each kingdom's fold, And clashing wars spun Hecate round The pungent halls of spastic Doom; When in each Nation fought king Lust As siffling vapours gleamed like gold, Ten legions whom the gods forsook Wrought havoc on this Cauldron's shore: Then Dragon-guidons led the march As battle-axes smote vile Lords; Stout hears that with king Vengeance shook, Fought with valour's shield for more gore; Assaults that rasped each Temple's arch, Spake conquest o'er shambling hordes. This tale on ghastly Vellum's writ, More sypher'd woes the walls proclaim; Where goblins fondle crumbling bones, There lies a death-thrown monster cold. Perturbéd at writings on yon script As moaning airs gaunt Sorrows name, Each ape attests in faffling tones-- Flight to the Dragons' haunted fold. Affrighted at this fearful gaze As coals blaze like twinkling jewels, Night-hawks that croak at bat-faced owls Gledge at each gnome that digged a bone From some bleak pool, and pierce the haze Where censers blaze. Unconqueréd ghouls Who laugh and leer at demon howls, Make signs unto the hell-lashed foam-- Japes that the damn'd fear in each knell!