How the herb-smell in the chamber Troubled me! With painful effort Thought I where I had already Smelt the same, but vain my thoughts were. How the wind a-down the chimney Gave me pain! Like sighs it sounded Of dejected dried-up spirits,-- Like the sound of well-known voices. Most of all was I tormented By the stuff’d birds, which were standing On a shelf above my head, Near the place where I was lying. They their wings were slowly flapping And with awful motion, bending Downward tow’rd me, forward pushing Their long beaks, like human noses. Ah! where have I seen already Noses such as these? At Hamburg, Or at Frankfort, in the Jews’ street? Sad the glimmering recollection! I at last was overpower’d Quite by sleep, and in the place of Wakeful, terrible phantasmas, Came a healthful, steady dream. And I dreamt that this poor cottage Suddenly became a ball-room Which by columns was supported, And by candelabra lighted. Some invisible musicians Play’d from out Robert-le-Diable That fine crazy dance of nuns; All alone I walk’d about there. But at length the doors were open’d, Open’d wide and then advanced With a step both slow and stately Guests of wonderful appearance. They were solely bears and spirits! Walking bolt upright, each bear Led a spirit as his partner, In a snow-white grave-cloth hidden. In this manner pair’d, began they Waltzing up and down with vigour In the hall. The sight was curious, Laughable, but also fearful! For the awkward bears soon found it Difficult to keep in step With the white and airy figures, Who whirl’d round with easy motion. But those poor unhappy creatures Were inexorably driven, And their snorting overpower’d E’en the’ orchestral double bass. Oftentimes one couple jostled ’Gainst another, and the bear Gave the spirit that had push’d him Some hard kicks on his hind quarters. Often in the dance’s bustle Would a bear tear off the shroud From the head of his companion, And a death’s head was disclosed then. But at length with joyous uproar Crash’d the trumpets and the cymbals, And the kettle-drums loud thunder’d, And there came the gallopade. To the end of this I dreamt not,-- For a stupid clumsy bear Trod upon my corns, and made me Cry aloud, and so awoke me. CAPUT XXII. Phœbus in his sunny droschka Lash’d his flaming horses onwards, And had half his course already Through the spacious heavens completed, Whilst I still in slumber lay, And of bears and spirits, strangely Intertwining with each other In quaint arabesque, was dreaming. Midday ’twas ere I awaken’d, And I found myself alone; Both my hostess and Lascaro For the chase had started early.