52
the bridge of the dragon.
They sought in vain to reason of their ill.
Frantic were some, and cried bewildered:
"We are but playthings of Almighty will."—
"Take we our flocks and cattle," others said,
"And last year's hoardings of the press and mill;
Alas! what fruitful valley lies ahead,
Or whither shall we go, that pestilence
And aching famine may not follow hence?"
Frantic were some, and cried bewildered:
"We are but playthings of Almighty will."—
"Take we our flocks and cattle," others said,
"And last year's hoardings of the press and mill;
Alas! what fruitful valley lies ahead,
Or whither shall we go, that pestilence
And aching famine may not follow hence?"
They called to mind the ancient prophecy
That in the fiery Dragon's rule abhorred,
The first year, blight would take the grain, and dry
The honey juices, which their orchards stored;
But if another Spring, his ghastly sigh
Came curdling up the wind, shedding abroad
Its sick, hoar vapors, far more dreadful blight
On man and beast, and on the earth would light.
That in the fiery Dragon's rule abhorred,
The first year, blight would take the grain, and dry
The honey juices, which their orchards stored;
But if another Spring, his ghastly sigh
Came curdling up the wind, shedding abroad
Its sick, hoar vapors, far more dreadful blight
On man and beast, and on the earth would light.
Ere then, dead seers had said, worse loss will be,
Than loss of corn and wine:—of noble dower
Than loss of corn and wine:—of noble dower
