Within the Mew, a tower which well hath earned

From me its name of Famine, and where wrath

Yet others waits, a narrow opening hath,
Through which of several moons the broken light

Had strayed, when unto me in sleep was sent

A dream whereby the future's veil was rent.
" This ill dream me this man set forth in might :

He wolf and whelps upon those mounts pursued
Which Pisa 'twixt and Lucca's domes obtrude.
Hounds had he with him, lank and shrewd and keen.
And in their front Gualandi's sword had place,
' Sismondi's lash and sour Lanfranchi's mace.
THE STORY OF THE DIVINE COMEDY. 287

Father and sons' undoing soon was seen ;

Methought the sharp fangs on them closed, and tore
Their flanks, which now the hue of crimson wore.
" Before the dawn I woke and heard my sons,

The helpless children with me, in their sleep,

Cry out for bread, cries pushed from sobbmgs deep.
Right cruel art thou, if not e'en now runs

To tears thy grief at what my heart forbode,

If tears of thine at misery's tale e'er flowed.
And then they woke, and came the hour around

Which had been wont our scanty meal to bring ;

But from our dreams dumb terrors seemed to spring;

" When from below we heard the dreadful sound

Of nails ; the horrible tower was closed ; all dumb
1 let my gaze into my sons' eyes come.
Weep I did not, like stone my feelings lay.
