The rocks that tower on either side Build up a wild fantastic scene; Temples like those among the Hindoos, And mosques, and spires, and abbey-windows, And castles all with ivy green! 685 And, while the Ass pursues his way, Along this solitary dell, As pensively his steps advance, The mosques and spires change countenance, And look at Peter Bell! 690 That unintelligible cry Hath left him high in preparation,-- Convinced that he, or soon or late, This very night will meet his fate-- And so he sits in expectation! 695 [75] The strenuous Animal hath clomb With the green path; and now he wends Where, shining like the smoothest sea, In undisturbed immensity A [76] level plain extends. 700 But whence this faintly-rustling sound By which the journeying pair are chased? --A withered leaf is close behind, [77] Light plaything for the sportive wind Upon that solitary waste. 705 When Peter spied the moving thing, It only doubled his distress; [78] "Where there is not a bush or tree, The very leaves they follow me-- So huge hath been my wickedness!" 710 To a close lane they now are come, Where, as before, the enduring Ass Moves on without a moment's stop, Nor once turns round his head to crop A bramble-leaf or blade of grass. 715 Between the hedges as they go, The white dust sleeps upon the lane; And Peter, ever and anon Back-looking, sees, upon a stone, Or in the dust, a crimson stain. 720 A stain--as of a drop of blood By moonlight made more faint and wan; Ha! why these sinkings of despair? [79] He knows not how the blood comes there-- And Peter is a wicked man. 725 At length he spies a bleeding wound, Where he had struck the Ass's head; [80] He sees the blood, knows what it is,-- A glimpse of sudden joy was his, But then it quickly fled; 730 Of him whom sudden death had seized He thought,--of thee, O faithful Ass! And once again those ghastly pains, Shoot to and fro through heart and reins, And through his brain like lightning pass. [81] 735 PART THIRD I've heard of one, a gentle Soul, Though given to sadness and to gloom, And for the fact will vouch,--one night It chanced that by a taper's light This man was reading in his room; 740 Bending, as you or I might bend At night o'er any pious book, [82] When sudden blackness overspread The snow white page on which he read, And made the good man round him look. 745