Page:Queen Moo's talisman; the fall of the Maya empire (IA queenmoostalisma00leplrich).djvu/81

 VI.

S Aac remained with power complete at last;

But all his triumph was by gloom o'ercast;

He writhed in torture when, each night, he thought

How great the cost at which his throne was bought.

Worse yet, he'd lost the stake for which he played—

To fail in winning Móo, all else outweighed.

Upon his soul wrath preyed till spent; and now

Dark melancholy hovered o'er his brow.

Unsatisfied, unresting, ne'er at ease,

Seek where he might, nothing in life could please.

Alone he ruled, none dared his word gainsay;

But this could not his discontent allay.

'Twas not remorse that ever brought him pain,

But fierce regret that he had failed to gain

That chief desire of his unyielding will:

This bitter thought his mind would ever fill. (61)