Xiii

"Within the webs of darkness and of day The spider Hours spin about thy world, Who now finds time to even laugh or pray, Cramped in a term of years that are uncurled Like coils of some huge monster, head uphurled To fang when the last fold falls! Slope on slope The night environs thee with space, empearled With hopeless stars by which men symbol Hope, Beneath whose light they breed and curse and pray and grope."