By this time he was cross the ford (Where he was very nearly floored), And passed the bog so dark and dank Where Snobdom’s “CHARLIE” sprawled and sank, And through the sand-pit, Egypt-dark, Where war-dogs seemed to lurk and bark; And the thorn-thicket, wild and wide, Where one had need be Argus-eyed. Before him doom appears at flood, Redoubling storm roars through the wood; Tongued lightnings flash from pole to pole, And vocal thunders fiercely roll. * * * * * But there was pluck in WEG’S shrewd noddle, He cared no more for threats than twaddle, His mare, though, was a bit astonished, Until, by hand and heel admonished, She ventured forward on the light, And eh! WEG saw a wondrous sight! Warlocks and witches in a dance, Egyptian whirls, and jigs from France; Drum-thumpings loud, and fife-like squeals, Put life and mettle in their heels. High on a seat, with flaming eyes, There sat old Nick in human guise; Mastiff-like, stern, black, grim and large; To set the measures was his charge. He pitched the pipes and made them skirl, Till the wild troop seemed all a-whirl. Coffins stood round like open presses, And showed dead Bills in foolscap dresses, And by some dark, prophetic sleight Each held a boding spectral light, By which our wary WEG was able To spy, spread out upon a table, Late-murdered measures; cord or knife Had robbed the innocents of life. A proud Peer’s garter one had strangled, And many more were maimed and mangled; In short the scene was simply awful, And WEG considered quite unlawful. * * * * * But WEG knew what was what right well, And one young witch there bore the bell. One late enlisted in the rout (At Woodstock known and thereabout) At many a measure she had shot, And many a plan had sent to pot; Made many a plucky wight feel queer, And shook e’en her own side with fear. Her “cutty sark” of true-blue yarn, Which, up to now, the witch had worn, In cut and fit was scant and strange, Some thought she hankered for a change, And that ’twas sad her youth’s bright riches Should e’er have graced a dance of witches.