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And they snored in so sound a sleep that they were not wakened by

the gleam of lanterns and the entry of some dozens of men, who

fell upon the gentry as wall spiders, called mowers, upon drowsy

flies; scarcely does one of them have time to buzz before the

grim master encircles it around with long legs and strangles it.

The sleep of the gentry was still sounder than the sleep of

flies: not a one buzzed; all lay as if lifeless, though they were

seized by strong arms, and thrown about like straw when it is

bound into sheaves.