Page:Betelguese, a trip through hell.djvu/57

Rh A symbol of king Typhon's wrack! Where crystal lamps shine most glorious,

Twin legions lie in cajons bleak,— Tokens of Hell invidious! Then fades the burnished light on high;

Magicians stave their heads in dust,

The vermin feed on reeking bones,

Each gnome sobs to a green-horn'd toad.

And monarchs of this dungeoned sky

Untomb each son in sacred trust

As vypers sound their rasping tones,

Farewell the ancient Greek's abode! Then spectres of the tower'd night,

(Vultures of the sun, moon and stars)

And bezzling parasites of dawn,

Haunt ichnolite of mourners cold; Then purple sins bloom in the light

As vypers drive queens in bright cars; Where dragons root the blistere'd lawn,

There reigns a curdling monster bold.