“The Meuse” [poem]
THE MEUSE
The Meuse
The sky was clear, the morn was gay
In promise of a cloudless day
Fresh flew the breeze with whose light wing
Aspen and oak were quivering
From floweret dank it dashed the dew
The harebell bent its blossom blue
And from the Meuse the mist wreaths 1 grey
That morning breeze had swept away
Showing such scenes as well might seem
The fairy vision of a dream 2
For changing still and still as fair
Rock‸
Peak over peak, fantastic ever a
And grey and gaunt their lichened head
Rose sheerly from the rivers bed 3
Whose mantling wave, in foamy sheet
Their stern projecting bases beat
And lashed to fury in his pride
In circling whirlpools swept the tide
And threatening on some future day
Those mighty rocks to tear away
What though their front should seem to be
A barrier to eternity 4
But on its side the cliffs between
Were mazy forests ever seen
That the tall cliffs steep flanks so grey
Were clothed in mantle green and gay
Long time along that d b dell so deep
Beside the rivers bed we sweep
So steep the mighty crests inclined c
None other pathway you might find
Till the tall cliffs gigantic grace
To undulating hills gave place
And vineyards clothe the bending brow
Stead of the clinging copsewood now
In promise of a cloudless day
Ruskin's line number
175Fresh flew the breeze with whose light wing
Aspen and oak were quivering
From floweret dank it dashed the dew
System generated line number
5The harebell bent its blossom blue
And from the Meuse the mist wreaths 1 grey
Ruskin's line number
180That morning breeze had swept away
Showing such scenes as well might seem
The fairy vision of a dream 2
System generated line number
10For changing still and still as fair
Rock‸
wave
and wood were mingled there
Ruskin's line number
185Peak over peak, fantastic ever a
And grey and gaunt their lichened head
System generated line number
15Rose sheerly from the rivers bed 3
Whose mantling wave, in foamy sheet
Ruskin's line number
190Their stern projecting bases beat
And lashed to fury in his pride
In circling whirlpools swept the tide
System generated line number
20And threatening on some future day
Those mighty rocks to tear away
Ruskin's line number
195What though their front should seem to be
A barrier to eternity 4
But on its side the cliffs between
System generated line number
25Were mazy forests ever seen
That the tall cliffs steep flanks so grey
Were clothed in mantle green and gay
Long time along that d b dell so deep
Ruskin's line number
202Beside the rivers bed we sweep
System generated line number
30So steep the mighty crests inclined c
None other pathway you might find
Ruskin's line number
205Till the tall cliffs gigantic grace
To undulating hills gave place
And vineyards clothe the bending brow
System generated line number
35Stead of the clinging copsewood now