Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79. | | | | Spain: Barcelona | | Barcelona | | George Croly (1780–1860) |
| | (From Sebastian)
’T WAS evening as they reached the mountain’s brow | |
| That showed them Barcelona in the vale, | |
| And long they paused to see that lovely show; | |
| The sun low levelled on the city pale, | |
| Montjuif’s bright brow, its lily standard hung, | 5 |
| Like rising flame, on heaven; the port’s thick sail, | |
| The clouds upon the sea of sapphire flung, | |
| The white tents scattered o’er the fields, like snow | |
| That winter leaves upon the green of spring, | |
| The squadron’s distant charge, that seemed the flow | 10 |
| Of trickling streams, the verdure crimsoning. | |
| The mighty sun sank down. The citadel | |
| Sent from its battlements the evening peal. | |
| Slow in its smoke the Bourbon banner fell: | |
| From England’s twilight camp the answering gun | 15 |
| Sent up its solemn roar, and ere ’t was done | |
| A flourish of bold music, drum and horn, | |
| Followed its white, fierce incense up the air; | |
| But from the city other sounds were borne, | |
| Cathedral chants, and bells that rang for prayer. | 20 | | | |
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