I say that I can tell—'twas half a minute;

I know the solar beams take up more time

Ere, packed up for their journey, they begin it;[gz]

But then their Telegraph is less sublime,[527]

And if they ran a race, they would not win it

'Gainst Satan's couriers bound for their own clime.

The sun takes up some years for every ray

To reach its goal—the Devil not half a day.