Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Russia: Vol. XX. 1876–79. | | | | Moscow | | Moscow | | Karl Theodor Körner (1791–1813) |
| | Translated by W. B. Chorley
HOW thy church domes swell yonder, amply rounded! | |
| How sun-gleams o’er each golden palace hover! | |
| The eye, delighted, can no rest discover; | |
| On every side midst varied pomps confounded,— | |
| Sudden, o’er all, by flame the sight is bounded,— | 5 |
| With their own hands thy citizens do cover | |
| All their own roofs with blazing firebrands over; | |
| A crackling ring of fires hath thee surrounded! | |
| Let none but fools condemn, this ruin knowing: | |
| Churches, be crushed! ye palaces, melt glowing! | 10 |
| The Russian Phœnix life i’ th’ flames is throwing! | |
| Yet, with bright glories from his fire-crown taken, | |
| In the free youth’s proud glance shall he awaken; | |
| And conquering St. George his lance hath shaken! | | | | |
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