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A reservoir of darkness,

black as witches´ cauldrons are, when filled

with moon-drugs in th ´eclipse distill´d.

Leaning

to look if foot might pass

down thro´ that chasm, I saw, beneath,

As far as vision could explore,

the jetty sides as smooth as glass,

Looking as if

just varnish´d o´er

with that dark pitch the seat of Death

throws out upon its slimy shore.

A reservoir

of darkness, black

as witches´ cauldrons

are, when filled

with moon-drugs

in th´eclipse distill´d.

Feeble creature, suffocating, choking, crying, reeling, dying!

A cleansing metamorphosis shall sweep away my stupidity.

Leaning to look

if foot might pass

down thro´ that chasm, I saw, beneath

As far

as vision could explore,

the jetty sides

as smooth as glass,

Looking as if just varnish´d o´er

with that dark pitch the seat of Death

throws out upon its slimy shore.

A reservoir of darkness, black

as witches´ cauldrons are, when

filled ...

With moon-drugs in th´eclipse distill´d.

Leaning to look if foot might pass

down thro´ that chasm, I saw, beneath,

As far as vision could explore

Slumber, Watcher, till the spheres,

six and twenty thousand years

have revolv´d, and I return

to the spot where now I burn.

Other stars anon shall rise

to the axis of the skies

Stars that soothe, stars that bless

with a sweet forgetfulness

Only when my round is o´er

shall the past

disturb my door.

A reservoir of darkness,

black as witches´ cauldrons

A reservoir of darkness,

black as witches´ cauldrons are, when filled

with moon-drugs in th ´eclipse distill´d.