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.