midnight
Lot , King of Lodon , was hunchback 'd from youth , Dunmail of Cumbria had never a tooth ; But Adolph of Bambrough , Northumberland 's heir ; Was gay and was gallant , was young and was fair . There was strife ` mongst the sisters , for each one would have For husband King Adolph , the gallant and brave ; And envy bred hate , and hate urged them to blows , When the firm earth was cleft , and the Arch-fiend arose ! He swore to the maidens their wish to fulfil -- They swore to the foe they would work by his will , A spindle and distaff to each hath he given , ` Now hearken my spell , ' said the Outcast of Heaven . ` Ye shall ply these spindles at midnight hour , And for every spindle shall rise a tower , Where the right shall be feeble , the wrong shall have power , And there shall ye dwell with your paramour . ' Beneath the pale moonlight they sate on the wold , And the rhymes which they chaunted must never be told ; And as the black wool from the distaff they sped , With blood from their bosom they moisten 'd the thread . As light danced the spindles beneath the cold gleam , The castle arose like the birth of a dream -- The seven towers ascended like mist from the ground , Seven portals defend them , seven ditches surround . Within that dread castle seven monarchs were wed , But six of the seven ere the morning lay dead ; With their eyes all on fire , and their daggers all red , Seven damsels surround the Northumbrian 's bed .