III.
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hey chained us each to a column stone,And we were three--yet, each alone;We could not move a single pace, 50We could not see each other's face,But with that pale and livid lightThat made us strangers in our sight:And thus together--yet apart,Fettered in hand, but joined in heart,[d]'Twas still some solace in the dearthOf the pure elements of earth,To hearken to each other's speech,And each turn comforter to eachWith some new hope, or legend old, 60Or song heroically bold;But even these at length grew cold.Our voices took a dreary tone,An echo of the dungeon stone,A grating sound, not full and free,As they of yore were wont to be:It might be fancy--but to meThey never sounded like our own.
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