An odor, strange though not offensive, spread About him, as he near and nearer drew; But, piercing, keen, it filled our Founder’s head, Involved his brain, and passed his senses through; Entranced he sate, while round him rose and played Celestial hues, and music strange and new;-- The heavens, the earth, to various radiance turned, And in a maze of mingling colors burned. XLIII. The juggling sesek vanished from his sight; No alien object did his trance confuse; So rang the hum, so danced the colors bright, The hues seemed music, and the music hues; Still swelled the sounds, still livelier flashed the light; His limbs obedience to his will refuse; He strove to rise, he yielded to affright, Like one be-nightmared in the dreams of night. XLIV. “Whence this dread power that steals my strength away? This creeping torpor, this Lethean dew? This strange wild rapture mingling with dismay? Ye dangerous beauties! vanish from my view; Creatures of Evil, come ye to betray One victim more, and his sad soul subdue Unto the Tempter, whose infernal spell Brought death to Eden, and gave joy to hell? XLV. “And shall my labors thus inglorious end? Shall my defeat give him a triumph new?” The thought was fire, and did new vigor lend; Back rushed his soul through every avenue. A seeming cloud did from his brain ascend, The magic colors vanished from his view; And at his feet, in many a supple sweep, The odious reptile coiled him for the leap. XLVI. Swift darts the tongue, the horrid jaws unfold;-- Williams beheld--struck--cleft the head away: In many a loosening coil the body rolled, Collapsed, grew still, and there extended lay, A headless reptile;--all its hues of gold And diamond deadened in its life’s decay; Whilst the foiled wizard looked upon the slain, And choked and yelled, then choked with rage again. XLVII. The crowds looked on ’twixt terror and surprise; They gazed--they gaped with fixed astonishment; Their serpent manit braved--ay, slaughtered lies! Is it Awanux that is prevalent? But when they gave full credence to their eyes, Wild wondering clamors through the masses went, Which closed in shouts that through the forest rolled, “The wizard conquered by the Yengee bold!” XLVIII. Ill could that juggler a white victor brook, And Hell’s dark passions boiled through all his blood; His eyes shot fire, and from his belt he took His deadly dart,--and in stern silence viewed Its poisoned barb, whose short and horrid crook The jaws of seseks armed,--jaws all imbued With the keen venom gathered from the fangs Of such as died by self-inflicted pangs. XLIX.