 | Rhymes of our planet |  |
109
NAPLES
City of palaces splendid,
Richer than silver and gold,
Always by beauty attended,
E'en if thy birthday is old,
Child of the mountain's begetting,
Pearl with the waves for a setting,
Thou art a feast to behold!
Richer than silver and gold,
Always by beauty attended,
E'en if thy birthday is old,
Child of the mountain's begetting,
Pearl with the waves for a setting,
Thou art a feast to behold!
City of sin and uncleanness,
Embers of Passion's red flame,
Mined by the fingers of meanness,
Crushed by the footfalls of shame;
False-visaged Poverty crying—
Virtue neglected and dying—
Canst thou be one and the same?
Embers of Passion's red flame,
Mined by the fingers of meanness,
Crushed by the footfalls of shame;
False-visaged Poverty crying—
Virtue neglected and dying—
Canst thou be one and the same?
Ne'er could the sun-billows quiver,
Warm on a valley below,
Where the great life-bearing river
Rushed with a mightier flow:
Gems in their own light are glancing;
Beauty is blushing and dancing;
Hurry and tumult and glow!
Warm on a valley below,
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Rushed with a mightier flow:
Gems in their own light are glancing;
Beauty is blushing and dancing;
Hurry and tumult and glow!
Never the shadows were falling
Charged with unkindlier gloom;
Death, with assurance appalling,
Always is asking for room!
Under thy battlements serried,
Corpses of cities lie buried;
Half of thy realm is a tomb!
Charged with unkindlier gloom;
Death, with assurance appalling,
Always is asking for room!
Under thy battlements serried,
Corpses of cities lie buried;
Half of thy realm is a tomb!
When did the nymphs of the waters
Comelier visage display?
Beauty of Ocean's fair daughters,
Sky of the earth is thy bay;
Valley of crystal 'mid highlands,
Jewels of green-crested islands
Watch thee by night and by day.
Comelier visage display?
Beauty of Ocean's fair daughters,
Sky of the earth is thy bay;
Valley of crystal 'mid highlands,
Jewels of green-crested islands
Watch thee by night and by day.
When did the ghosts of the mountain
Kindle a lurider blaze?
Fire's uncontrollable fountain,
Burning the world as it plays;
Hades' wide flame-guarded portals,
Where we poor moths of the mortals
Gather, and fear as we gaze.
Kindle a lurider blaze?
Fire's uncontrollable fountain,
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Hades' wide flame-guarded portals,
Where we poor moths of the mortals
Gather, and fear as we gaze.
City of contrasts unnumbered,
Fullest of love and of strife—
E'en if by ignorance cumbered,
Thou with instruction art rife!
Highway of chariots and hearses—
Harbor of blessings and curses—
Faithfulest symbol of life!
Fullest of love and of strife—
E'en if by ignorance cumbered,
Thou with instruction art rife!
Highway of chariots and hearses—
Harbor of blessings and curses—
Faithfulest symbol of life!
| Rhymes of our planet | |