Page:The city of dreadful night - and other poems (IA cityofdreadfulni00thomrich).pdf/34

 But these, as if they took some burden, bowed; The whole frame sank; however strong and proud Before, they crept in quite infirm and cowed.

And as they passed me, earnestly from each A morsel of his hope I did beseech, To pay my entrance; but all mocked my speech.

Not one would cede a tittle of his store, Though knowing that in instants three or four He must resign the whole for evermore.

So I returned. Our destiny is fell; For in this Limbo we must ever dwell, Shut out alike from Heaven and Earth and Hell.

The other sighed back, Yea; but if we grope With care through all this Limbo's dreary scope, We yet may pick up some minute lost hope;

And, sharing it between us, entrance win, In spite of fiends so jealous for gross sin: Let us without delay our search begin.