Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
England: Vols. I–IV. 1876–79. | | | | Rivers of England | | Rivers of England | | Alexander Pope (1688–1744) |
| | (From Windsor Forest)
IN that blest moment from his oozy bed | |
| Old father Thames advanced his reverend head. | |
| His tresses dropped with dews, and o’er the stream | |
| His shining horns diffused a golden gleam: | |
| Graved on his urn appeared the moon, that guides | 5 |
| His swelling waters and alternate tides; | |
| The figured streams in waves of silver rolled, | |
| And on their banks Augusta rose in gold. | |
| Around his throne the sea-born brothers stood, | |
| Who swell with tributary urns his flood; | 10 |
| First the famed authors of his ancient name, | |
| The winding Isis and the fruitful Tame: | |
| The Kennet swift, for silver eels renowned; | |
| The Loddon slow, with verdant alders crowned; | |
| Cole, whose dark streams his flowery islands lave; | 15 |
| And chalky Wey, that rolls a milky wave: | |
| The blue, transparent Vandalis appears; | |
| The gulfy Lee his sedgy tresses rears; | |
| And sullen Mole, that hides his diving flood; | |
| And silent Darent, stained with Danish blood. | 20 | | | |
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