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22 By their free choice, and immemorial Usage; though Rumour murmurs her wild tale Ever with a light head confusedly.

Shall I behold some dark terrific cave, Reeking with bats, and owls, and doleful things, High among crags of a precipitous mountain, Strewn with fresh bones of men, that hideous ghouls In human form, foul anthropophagi, Have gnawn for food; a loathsome den defiled With dripping human members, torn for meat? A desolate wind howls ever dolefully Around the dismal open mouth of hell, Howls like a murdered man's avenging soul! While among boulder-ruins of the mountain Climb beasts obscene, scenting a horrid feast! At night a thunder of great lions rolls, Rebellowing from basalt precipices: At night a fervour of infernal flame, With cruel yells of hellish revelry, Affronts pale stars; what time the unearthly fiends Grimy, and gash'd with knives, and foul with earth,