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VIII. THE ‘MISERERE’ IN THE SISTINE CHAPEL.

Those sounds expiring on mine ear, mine eye
Was by their visual reflex strangely spelled:
A vision of the Angels who rebelled
Still hung before me, through the yielding sky
Sinking on plumes outstretched imploringly:
Their Tempter's hopes and theirs for ever quelled
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They sank with hands upon their eyes close held
And longed, methought, for death yet could not die.
Down, ever down a mournful pageant streaming
Like Souls in whom Despair hath slain Endeavour
Inwoven choirs to ruin blindly tending,
They sank. I wept as one who weeps while dreaming
To see them, host on host, by doom descending
Down the dim gulfs, for ever and for ever.
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