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　　LAMB'S EARLIEST POEM

　　MILLE VIAE MORTIS

　　(1789)

　　What time in bands of slumber all were laid,

　　To Death's dark court, methought I was convey'd;

　　In realms it lay far hid from mortal sight,

　　And gloomy tapers scarce kept out the night.

　　On ebon throne the King of Terrors sate;

　　Around him stood the ministers of Fate;

　　On fell destruction bent, the murth'rous band

　　Waited attentively his high command.

　　Here pallid Fear & dark Despair were seen.

　　And Fever here with looks forever lean,

　　Swoln Dropsy, halting Gout, profuse of woes,

　　And Madness fierce & hopeless of repose,

　　Wide-wasting Plague; but chief in honour stood

　　More-wasting War, insatiable of blood;

　　With starting eye-balls, eager for the word;

　　Already brandish'd was the glitt'ring sword.

　　Wonder and fear alike had fill'd my breast,

　　And thus the grisly Monarch I addrest—

　　"Of earth-born Heroes why should Poets sing,

　　And thee neglect, neglect the greatest King?

　　To thee ev'n Caesar's self was forc'd to yield

　　The glories of Pharsalia's well-fought field."

　　When, with a frown, "Vile caitiff, come not here,"

　　Abrupt cried Death; "shall flatt'ry soothe my ear?"

　　"Hence, or thou feel'st my dart!" the Monarch said.

　　Wild terror seiz'd me, & the vision fled. The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 4