So the winter now closed round them br With resistless fury. Scattering br Over all his breath so icy, br He inflamed each wind that blithe br To assail them angrily. br Over them he gave dominion br To his frost-unsharpened tempests; br Down to Timur's council went he, br And with threat'ning voice address'd him:-- br "Softly, slowly, wretched being! br Live, the tyrant of injustice; br But shall hearts be scorch'd much longer br By thy flames,--consume before them? br If amongst the evil spirits br Thou art one,--good! I'm another. br Thou a greybeard art--so I am; br Land and men we make to stiffen. br Thou art Mars! And I Saturnus,-- br Both are evil-working planets, br When united, horror-fraught. br Thou dost kill the soul, thou freezes br E'en the atmosphere; still colder br Is my breath than thine was ever. br Thy wild armies vex the faithful br With a thousand varying torments; br Well! God grant that I discover br Even worse, before I perish! br And by God, I'll give thee none. br Let God hear what now I tell thee! br Yes, by God! from Death's cold clutches br Nought, O greybeard, shall protect thee, br Not the hearth's broad coalfire's ardour, br Not December's brightest flame.