I
Now there was one who came in later days
To play at Emperor： in the dead of night
Stole crown and sceptre， and stood forth to light
In sudden purple. The dawn's straggling rays
Showed Paris fettered， murmuring in amaze，
With red hands at her throat——a piteous sight.
Then the new Caesar， stricken with affright
At his own daring， shrunk from public gaze
In the Elysee， and had lost the day
But that around him flocked his birds of prey，
Sharp-beaked， voracious， hungry for the deed.
'Twixt hope and fear behold great Caesar hang！
Meanwhile， methinks， a ghostly laughter rang
Through the rotunda of the Invalides.