7
Bishop Hatto fearfully hastened away
And he crost the Rhine without delay,
And reach'd his Tower in the Island and barr'd
All the gates secure and hard.
And he crost the Rhine without delay,
And reach'd his Tower in the Island and barr'd
All the gates secure and hard.
He laid him down and closed his eyes; . .
But soon a scream made him arise,
He started, and saw two eyes of flame
On his pillow, from whence the screaming came.
But soon a scream made him arise,
He started, and saw two eyes of flame
On his pillow, from whence the screaming came.
He listen'd and look'd; . . . it was only the Cat;
But the Bishop he grew more fearful for that,
For she sate screaming, mad with fear
At the Army of Rats that were drawing near.
But the Bishop he grew more fearful for that,
For she sate screaming, mad with fear
At the Army of Rats that were drawing near.
For they have swum over the river so deep,
And they have climb'd the shores so steep,
And now by thousands up they crawl
To the holes and windows in the wall.
And they have climb'd the shores so steep,
And now by thousands up they crawl
To the holes and windows in the wall.
Down on his knees the Bishop fell,
And faster and faster his beads did he tell,
As louder and louder drawing near
The saw of their teeth without he could hear.
And faster and faster his beads did he tell,
As louder and louder drawing near
The saw of their teeth without he could hear.
