Page:A masque of poets 1878.djvu/113

Rh As through that dreary realm he went, Followed a shape of dark portent: Pard-like, of furtive eye, with brain To treason narrowing, Aaron Burr Moved loyal-seeming in the train Led by the arch-conspirator. And craven Enos closed the rear, Whose honor's flame died out in fear. Not sooner does the dry bough burn And into fruitless ashes turn, Than he with whispered, false command Flung back the hundreds in his hand, Fled like a shade, and all forsook. Wherever Arnold bent his look Danger and doubt around him hung; And pale Disaster, shrouded, flung Black omens in his track, as though The fingers of a future woe Already clutched his life, to wring Some expiation for the thing That he was yet to do. A chill Struck helpless many a steadfast will Within the ranks; the very air Rang with a thunder-toned despair;