But let me put an end unto my theme:

There was an end of Ismail—hapless town!

Far flashed her burning towers o'er Danube's stream,

And redly ran his blushing waters down.

The horrid war-whoop and the shriller scream

Rose still; but fainter were the thunders grown:

Of forty thousand who had manned the wall,

Some hundreds breathed—the rest were silent all![474]