text:  How desolate! Around its cornices Of florid stucco shone the mimic flowers Of art's device carved to delight the eyes Of those long since but dust within their graves! The hollow hearth-place with its fluted jambs Of clammy Ethiop marble whence of yore Had risen the Yule-log's animating blaze On festal faces tomb-like coldly yawn'd; While o'er its centre lined in hues of night Grinn'd the same features with the aspick eyes And fox-like watchful though averted gaze The haunting demon of that voiceless home! VII