“Brussels” [poem]
Brussels
The racking clouds were eddying fast
Upon the bosom of the blast 1
In wild confusion fiercely driven
Fled they across the face of heaven
The fitful gust came shrieking high
The rattling rain flew driving by
But where the horizon stretched away
Towards the couch of parting day
A streak of paly light was seen
The heaped and darkling clouds between
Against that light for time full brief
Brussels arose in dark relief
Colossal on the western fire
Seemed massive tower and slender spire
Nearer and nearer as we drew
More strongly marked the outlines grew
Till of the buildings you might see
Distinct the gothic tracerie
The drawbridge rung, we past the gate 2
And regal Brussels entered straight
It stirs, to see the human tide
That marks a city in its pride
That fitful oceans eddying sweep
Is still more changeful than the deep
For those dark billows as they roll
Mark movements of the human soul.
Yet in that city there was none
Of that confused and busy hum
That tells of traffic & of trade
No, Brussels time of power is
Yet in her streets was something seen
Spoke what the city once had been
Our rapid course as now we wheel
Where she rose the huge Hotel de ville 3
The noble spires proportions high
Stood forth upon the cloudy sky
In rich all its fretted majesty.
And his last light the sun had sent
On Buttress and on Battlement
That while the houses were arrayed
In all the depth of twilight shade
Yet shot there faint a yellow glow
Where the tall arches shafted show
Glimmered a moment there the ray
Then fainter grew, and past away
Oh Brussels, Brussels thou hast been
Th Of many an action strange, the scene
Thou sawst, on Julys dreadful night 4
The veterans rushing to the fight
Thou heardest, when the word was spoken
At midnight thy repose was broken
The
Battalions bursting forth to bleed
Till the dark phalanx waving crest
Forth from thy gates was forward prest
And Breaking with the morning mild
The distant roar of battle wild
And later still the rabble shout
And revolutions riot rout
Leaving such marks as long shall tell
Of dark destruction fierce and fell.
Upon the bosom of the blast 1
In wild confusion fiercely driven
Ruskin's line number
115Fled they across the face of heaven
The fitful gust came shrieking high
System generated line number
5The rattling rain flew driving by
But where the horizon stretched away
Towards the couch of parting day
Ruskin's line number
120mind
a
A streak of paly light was seen
The heaped and darkling clouds between
System generated line number
10Against that light for time full brief
Brussels arose in dark relief
Colossal on the western fire
Ruskin's line number
125Seemed massive tower and slender spire
Nearer and nearer as we drew
System generated line number
15More strongly marked the outlines grew
Till of the buildings you might see
Distinct the gothic tracerie
Ruskin's line number
130The drawbridge rung, we past the gate 2
And regal Brussels entered straight
System generated line number
20It stirs, to see the human tide
That marks a city in its pride
That fitful oceans eddying sweep
Ruskin's line number
135Is still more changeful than the deep
For those dark billows as they roll
System generated line number
25Mark movements of the human soul.
Yet in that city there was none
Of that confused and busy hum
Ruskin's line number
140That tells of traffic & of trade
No, Brussels time of power is
was
sped
System generated line number
30Yet in her streets was something seen
Spoke what the city once had been
Our rapid course as now we wheel
Ruskin's line number
145Where she rose the huge Hotel de ville 3
The noble spires proportions high
System generated line number
35Stood forth upon the cloudy sky
In rich all its fretted majesty.
And his last light the sun had sent
Ruskin's line number
150On Buttress and on Battlement
That while the houses were arrayed
System generated line number
40In all the depth of twilight shade
Yet shot there faint a yellow glow
Where the tall arches shafted show
Ruskin's line number
155Glimmered a moment there the ray
Then fainter grew, and past away
System generated line number
45Oh Brussels, Brussels thou hast been
Th Of many an action strange, the scene
Thou sawst, on Julys dreadful night 4
Ruskin's line number
160The veterans rushing to the fight
Thou heardest, when the word was spoken
System generated line number
50At midnight thy repose was broken
The
By
tramp of men and neigh of steedBattalions bursting forth to bleed
Ruskin's line number
165Till the dark phalanx waving crest
Forth from thy gates was forward prest
System generated line number
55And Breaking with the morning mild
The distant roar of battle wild
And later still the rabble shout
Ruskin's line number
170And revolutions riot rout
Leaving such marks as long shall tell
System generated line number
60Of dark destruction fierce and fell.