One endless night

From Arthur Golding's 1567 Metamorphoses, Bk I.712 ff:

But as Cyllenius would have tolde this tale, he cast his sight

On Argus, and beholde his eyes had bid him all good night.

There was not one that did not sleepe, and fast he gan to nodde,

Immediately he ceast his talke, and with his charmed rodde,

So stroked all his heavie eyes that earnestly they slept.

Then with his Woodknife by and by he lightly to him stept,

And lent him such a perlous blowe, where as the shoulders grue

Unto the necke, that straight his heade quite from the bodie flue.

Then tombling downe the headlong hill his bloudie coarse he sent,

That all the way by which he rolde was stayned and besprent.

There lyest thou Argus under foote, with all thy hundreth lights,

And all the light is cleane extinct that was within those sights.

One endelesse night thy hundred eyes hath nowe bereft for aye,

Fábula de Mercurio y Argos, Diego Velázquez, 1659