James Thomson

The City of Dreadful Night James Thomson

Book Excerptn ruddier bars; And heard the heave and plashing of the flowAgainst the wall a dozen feet below. Large elm-trees stood along that river-walk; And under one, a few steps from my seat, I heard strange voices join in stranger talk, Although I had not heard approaching feet: These bodiless voices in my waking dreamFlowed dark words blending with sombre stream: --And you have after all come back; come back. I was about to follow on your track. And you have failed: our spark of hope is black. That I have failed is proved by my return: The spark is quenched, nor ever more will burn, But listen; and the story you shall learn. I reached the portal common spirits fear, And read the words above it, dark yet clear,"Leave hope behind, all ye who enter here: "And would have passed in, gratified to gainThat positive eternity of painInstead of this insufferable inane. A demon warder clutched me, Not so fast