14.  But in his verse, and in his prose, The essence of his dulness was Concentred and compressed so close, 720 ’Twould have made Guatimozin doze On his red gridiron of brass.

15.  A printer’s boy, folding those pages, Fell slumbrously upon one side; Like those famed Seven who slept three ages. 725 To wakeful frenzy’s vigil—­rages, As opiates, were the same applied.

16.  Even the Reviewers who were hired To do the work of his reviewing, With adamantine nerves, grew tired;—­ 730 Gaping and torpid they retired, To dream of what they should be doing.

17.  And worse and worse, the drowsy curse Yawned in him, till it grew a pest—­ A wide contagious atmosphere, 735 Creeping like cold through all things near; A power to infect and to infest.

18.  His servant-maids and dogs grew dull; His kitten, late a sportive elf; The woods and lakes, so beautiful, 740 Of dim stupidity were full.  All grew dull as Peter’s self.

19.  The earth under his feet—­the springs, Which lived within it a quick life, The air, the winds of many wings, 745 That fan it with new murmurings, Were dead to their harmonious strife.

20.  The birds and beasts within the wood, The insects, and each creeping thing, Were now a silent multitude; 750 Love’s work was left unwrought—­no brood Near Peter’s house took wing.

21.  And every neighbouring cottager Stupidly yawned upon the other:  No jackass brayed; no little cur 755 Cocked up his ears;—­no man would stir To save a dying mother.

22.  Yet all from that charmed district went But some half-idiot and half-knave, Who rather than pay any rent, 760 Would live with marvellous content, Over his father’s grave.

23.  No bailiff dared within that space, For fear of the dull charm, to enter; A man would bear upon his face, 765 For fifteen months in any case, The yawn of such a venture.

24.  Seven miles above—­below—­around—­ This pest of dulness holds its sway; A ghastly life without a sound; 770 To Peter’s soul the spell is bound—­ How should it ever pass away?

The Project Gutenberg Etext of Peter Bell the Third, by Percy Bysshe Shelley ************This file should be named ptbll10.txt or ptbll10.zip************

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