Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Switzerland and Austria: Vol. XVI. 1876–79. | | | | Introductory to Switzerland | | Switzerland | | Thomas Campbell (1777–1844) |
| | (From Theodoric)
’T WAS sunset, and the Ranz des Vaches was sung, | |
| And lights were o’er the Helvetian mountains flung, | |
| That gave the glacier tops their richest glow, | |
| And tinged the lakes like molten gold below. | |
| Warmth flushed the wonted regions of the storm, | 5 |
| Where, Phœnix-like, you saw the eagle’s form, | |
| That high in Heaven’s vermilion wheeled and soared. | |
| Woods nearer frowned, and cataracts dashed and roared, | |
| From heights browsed by the bounding bouquetin; | |
| Herds tinkling roamed the long-drawn vales between, | 10 |
| And hamlets glittered white, and gardens flourished green. | |
| ’T was transport to inhale the bright sweet air! | |
| The mountain-bee was revelling in its glare, | |
| And roving with his minstrelsy across | |
| The scented wild weeds and enamelled moss. | 15 |
| Earth’s features so harmoniously were linked, | |
| She seemed one great glad form, with life instinct, | |
| That felt Heaven’s ardent breath, and smiled below | |
| Its flush of love, with consentaneous glow. | | | | |
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