And force such burning blushes to the cheek Of Virgin modesty, that thou shalt wish The earth might cover thee! in that last hour, When thy bruis’d breast shall heave beneath the chains That link thee to the stake; when o’er thy form, Exposed unmantled, the brute multitude Shall gaze, and thou shalt hear the ribald taunt, More painful than the circling flames that scorch Each quivering member; wilt thou not in vain Then wish my friendly aid? then wish thine ear Had drank my words of comfort? that thy hand Had grasp’d the dagger, and in death preserved Insulted modesty?” Her glowing cheek Blush’d crimson; her wide eye on vacancy Was fix’d; her breath short panted. The cold Fiend, Grasping her hand, exclaim’d, “too-timid Maid, So long repugnant to the healing aid My friendship proffers, now shalt thou behold The allotted length of life.” He stamp’d the earth, And dragging a huge coffin as his car, Two Gouls came on, of form more fearful-foul Than ever palsied in her wildest dream Hag-ridden Superstition. Then Despair Seiz’d on the Maid whose curdling blood stood still. And placed her in the seat; and on they pass’d Adown the deep descent. A meteor light Shot from the Daemons, as they dragg’d along The unwelcome load, and mark’d their brethren glut On carcasses. Below the vault dilates Its ample bulk. “Look here!”—Despair addrest The shuddering Virgin, “see the dome of Death!” It was a spacious cavern, hewn amid The entrails of the earth, as tho’ to form The grave of all mankind: no eye could reach, Tho’ gifted with the Eagle’s ample ken, Its distant bounds. There, thron’d in darkness, dwelt The unseen Power of Death. Here stopt the Gouls, Reaching the destin’d spot. The Fiend leapt out, And from the coffin, as he led the Maid, Exclaim’d, “Where never yet stood mortal man, Thou standest: look around this boundless vault; Observe the dole that Nature deals to man, And learn to know thy friend.” She not replied, Observing where the Fates their several tasks Plied ceaseless. “Mark how short the longest web Allowed to man! he cried; observe how soon, Twin’d round yon never-resting wheel, they change Their snowy hue, darkening thro’ many a shade, Till Atropos relentless shuts the sheers!”