Across the plain its great hooves thunder....

And lo!-they're close, they're nearly there;

Before them is the nine days' wonder,

It fixes them with glassy stare.

It is a thing repulsive, horrid:

Its inky hair falls on its forehead;

Drenched of all life, the hue of lead

Its face is, while the huge lips, parted,

And, like the cheeks, of colour bled,

Disclose clenched teeth; over the Head

Its hour of doom hangs. Our brave-hearted

And doughty knight rides up and faces

Its sightless gaze; the midget graces

The horse's rump. "Hail, Head!" Ruslan

Cries loudly, for the Head to hear him.

"He who betrayed you is undone!

Look! Here he is, none now need fear him!"

These words the Head revivified

And in it roused new, fresh-born feeling.

It looked dow^n at them, and, revealing

All of its anguish, moaned and sighed.

Our hero it had recognized,

And at the midget, nostrils swelling,

Stared, full of venom undisguised.

A fiery red its pale cheeks turned,

And in its death-glazed eyes there burned

A fury fierce and all-compelling.

In towering rage, incensed, confused,

It gnashed its giant teeth, and stuttered,

And smothered imprecations muttered,

And with its slowing tongue abused

Its hated brother.... But the pain,

Prolonged as it had been, was ceasing;