midnight
It must be original to pass . '' `` Oh , well , all poets are plagiarists more or less , '' said Billy , `` but this time I will give you something of my own . '' Then Billy struck a pensive attitude , and began again : _ '' 'T was midnight ; in his guarded tent , Not a drum was heard , nor a funeral note , By thy cold , gray stones , oh , sea ! Once upon a midnight dreary , A gentle knight was pricking on ----- '' _ `` Worse and worse ! '' yelled Arthur . `` Halleck , Poe , Tennyson , Spenser , and I do n't know who else in a regular literary hash ! That will do for you , my boy . '