| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882). Complete Poetical Works. 1893. | | | | A Book of Sonnets | | To the River Rhone |
| | | THOU Royal River, born of sun and shower | |
| In chambers purple with the Alpine glow, | |
| Wrapped in the spotless ermine of the snow | |
| And rocked by tempests!—at the appointed hour | |
| Forth, like a steel-clad horseman from a tower, | 5 |
| With clang and clink of harness dost thou go | |
| To meet thy vassal torrents, that below | |
| Rush to receive thee and obey thy power. | |
| And now thou movest in triumphal march, | |
| A king among the rivers! On thy way | 10 |
| A hundred towns await and welcome thee; | |
| Bridges uplift for thee the stately arch, | |
| Vineyards encircle thee with garlands gay, | |
| And fleets attend thy progress to the sea! | | | | |
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