; 't is nine o'clock already.
'T is early bedtime, yet methinks 't were joy
On mattress cool to stretch supine. At midnight,
Were it winter, I were less fatigued, less sleepy.
Sleep! I invoke thee, "comfortable bird,
That broodest o'er the troubled waves of life,
And hushest them to peace." All hail the man
Who first invented bed! O, wondrous soft
This pillow to my weary head! right soon
My dizzy thoughts shall o'er the brink of sleep
Fall into chaos and be lost. I dream.
Now comes mine enemy, not silently,
But with insulting and defiant warning;
Come, banquet, if thou wilt; I offer thee
My cheek, my arm. Tease me not, hovering high
With that continuous hum; I fain would rest.
Come, do thy worst at once. Bite, scoundrel, bite!
Thou insect vulture, seize thy helpless prey!
No ceremony! (I'd have none with thee,
Could I but find thee.) Fainter now and farther
The tiny war-whoop; now I hear it not.
A cowardly assassin he; he waits,
Full well aware that I am on the alert,
With murderous intent. Perchance he's gone,
Hawk-eye and nose of hound not serving him
To find me in the dark. With a long sigh,
I beat my pillow, close my useless eyes,
And soon again my thoughts whirl giddily,
Verging towards dreams. Starting, I shake my bed;--
Loud thumps my heart,--rises on end my hair!
A murder-screech, and yells of frantic fury,
Under my very window,--a duet
Of fiendish hatred, battle to the death,--
'T is enough to enrage a man! Missile I seize,
Not caring what, and with a savage "Scat!"
That scrapes my throat, let drive. I would it were
A millstone! Swiftly through the garden beds
And o'er the fence on either side they fly;
I to my couch return, but not to sleep.
Weary I toss, and think 't is almost dawn,
So still the streets; but now the latest train,
Whistling melodiously, comes in; the tramp
Of feet, and hum of voices, echo far
In the still night air. Now with joy I feel
My eyelids droop once more. To sleep and dream
Is bliss unspeakable;--I'm going off;--
What was I thinking last?--slowly I rise
On downy pinions; dreaming, I fly, I soar;--
Through the clouds my way I'm winging,
Angels to their harps are singing,
Strains of unearthly sweetness lull me,
And thrilling harmonies----"Yelp! Bow-wow-wow!"
"Get out!"--"The dog has got me by the leg!"
"Stave him off! Will you? See, he's rent my pants,
My newest pl