"Know, then, that hell is my inheritance, "The devil himself my funeral dues must pay-- 370 "Go--since you must be paid--go, ask of him, "For he has gold, as fabling poets say." 94 Strait they retir'd--when thus he gave me charge, Pointing from the light window to the west, "Go three miles o'er the plain, and you shall see 375 "A burying-yard of sinners dead, unblest. 95 "Amid the graves a spiry building stands "Whose solemn knell resounding through the gloom "Shall call thee o'er the circumjacent lands "To the dull mansion destin'd for my tomb. 380 96 "There, since 'tis dark, I'll plant a glimmering light "Just snatch'd from hell, by whose reflected beams "Thou shalt behold a tomb-stone, full eight feet, "Fast by a grave, replete with ghosts and dreams. 97 "And on that stone engrave this epitaph, 385 "Since Death, it seems, must die like mortal men; "Yes--on that stone engrave this epitaph, "Though all hell's furies aim to snatch the pen. 98 "_Death in this tomb his weary bones hath laid,_ "_Sick of dominion o'er the human kind--_ 390 "_Behold what devastations he hath made,_ "_Survey the millions by his arm confin'd._ 99 "_Six thousand years has sovereign sway been mine,_ "_None, but myself, can real glory claim;_ "_Great Regent of the world I reign'd alone,_ 395 "_And princes trembled when my mandate came._ 100 "_Vast and unmatch'd throughout the world, my fame_ "_Takes place of gods, and asks no mortal date--_ "_No; by myself, and by the heavens, I swear,_ "_Not Alexander's name is half so great._ 400 101 "_Nor swords nor darts my prowess could withstand,_ "_All quit their arms, and bowd to my decree,_ "_Even mighty Julius died beneath my hand,_ "_For slaves and Cæsars were the same to me!_ 102 "_Traveller, wouldst thou his noblest trophies seek,_ 405 "_Search in no narrow spot obscure for those;_ "_The sea profound, the surface of all land_ "_Is moulded with the myriads of his foes._" 103 Scarce had he spoke, when on the lofty dome Rush'd from the clouds a hoarse resounding blast-- 410 Round the four eaves so loud and sad it play'd As though all musick were to breathe its last. 104 Warm was the gale, and such as travellers say Sport with the winds on Zaara's barren waste; Black was the sky, a mourning carpet spread, 415 Its azure blotted, and its stars o'ercast! 105 Lights in the air like burning stars were hurl'd, Dogs howl'd, heaven mutter'd, and the tempest blew, The red half-moon peeped from behind a cloud As if in dread the amazing scene to view. 420 106