A Glance

Chapter 15

Und'r the ghostly lamppost In the new moon night late A dark shadow approach'd As the trees fell down straight Clutch'd tight a silv'r sw'rd The gladiat'r refus'd to feareth And escapeth 'r runeth hence Though the beast came near The surroundings went pale And the breeze sudden ceas'd As it slith'r'd and slith'r'd close In shiv'ring ice he freez'd Its tail swapp'd side to side Followed by green dusteth and haze A large hood'd s'rpentine With em'rald eyes ablaze It directeth stared at him And he bloom'd with flame Falling down and down and down As the sw'rd miss'd its aim The so brave maneth pitilessly Collaps'd on the hot expanse He suffer'd, wept and di'd Battling a Basilisk glance