WHEREFORE are men amazed at thee, thou Blot
On the fair script of Time, thou sceptred Smear
Across the Day? Thou wert divulged full clear--
Hell's sponsor--long ago! Has earth forgot
Thy benison on a monster reeking hot
From shambles bloody as these,--thy orient peer,
Thy heart's mate, and infernal comrade dear ?
His red embrace do men remember not ?
Fall'n is thy fellow and withered from the scene:
Follow him thou ! And when the hounds of doom
Rend thee, and for thy carrion there hath been
Fit dust-heap found, and no relenting broom,
Purged be Life's palace of thy trail unclean,
And Earth made bride-sweet with returning bloom.
