So the winter now closed round them <br />With resistless fury. Scattering <br />Over all his breath so icy, <br />He inflamed each wind that blithe <br />To assail them angrily. <br />Over them he gave dominion <br />To his frost-unsharpened tempests; <br />Down to Timur's council went he, <br />And with threat'ning voice address'd him:-- <br />"Softly, slowly, wretched being! <br />Live, the tyrant of injustice; <br />But shall hearts be scorch'd much longer <br />By thy flames,--consume before them? <br />If amongst the evil spirits <br />Thou art one,--good! I'm another. <br />Thou a greybeard art--so I am; <br />Land and men we make to stiffen. <br />Thou art Mars! And I Saturnus,-- <br />Both are evil-working planets, <br />When united, horror-fraught. <br />Thou dost kill the soul, thou freezes <br />E'en the atmosphere; still colder <br />Is my breath than thine was ever. <br />Thy wild armies vex the faithful <br />With a thousand varying torments; <br />Well! God grant that I discover <br />Even worse, before I perish! <br />And by God, I'll give thee none. <br />Let God hear what now I tell thee! <br />Yes, by God! from Death's cold clutches <br />Nought, O greybeard, shall protect thee, <br />Not the hearth's broad coalfire's ardour, <br />Not December's brightest flame."<br /><br />Johann Wolfgang von Goethe<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/book-of-timur-the-winter-and-timur/
