midnight
Then came a convulsion in the heavens -- the gathering storm-clouds spoke to each other and exchanged lightning glances until the sky was a sea of fire . Great clouds whirled up from the west , and others bore down from the east , and they mingled around the moon in one great aerial war until the heavens were rent asunder , and the east wind gained the mastery , sweeping the surging war-clouds away to the western sky in the dark-blue depths . The waning moon shone out with sickly hue , and the diamond stars sprung forth , and soft clouds moving onwards like dark-stoled virgin priestesses bowed to the Queen of Heaven . Chios starts ; he shrinks ; he sees the glare of torches coming down the Sacred Way ; he counts them as they wildly dance upon the midnight air -- one , two -- five -- eight . He is undone ! She cometh not alone ! Towards him sweeps the fiery line until within a hundred paces it stops , and forms a circle , seven around , with one uplifted torch within the sacred zone .