 | Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy |  |
149
GOING TO NETTLESHIP'S GRAVE
FROM ARGENTIÈRE TO CHAMOUNIX, BY NIGHT
I need no surer, sympathetic guide,
Than this loud stream with waters icy cold,
Down with perpetual thunder darkly rolled,
Beneath a starless heaven at my side—
For somewhere in this valley, he who died,
Caught by the sudden snow-blast's withering hold,
Lies beyond storm in quiet churchyard mould,
Beneath the heights he climbed, dear friend, well tried.
Than this loud stream with waters icy cold,
Down with perpetual thunder darkly rolled,
Beneath a starless heaven at my side—
For somewhere in this valley, he who died,
Caught by the sudden snow-blast's withering hold,
Lies beyond storm in quiet churchyard mould,
Beneath the heights he climbed, dear friend, well tried.
Flow on, pale Arve, with lamentation flow!
Joined with thy gray-haired sister of the snow,
Make double moan and fill the air with sorrow:
I have no heart nor care to lift mine eyes
To find the sunlit glacier's glad surprise,
Or face the mountain splendours of to-morrow.
Joined with thy gray-haired sister of the snow,
Make double moan and fill the air with sorrow:
I have no heart nor care to lift mine eyes
To find the sunlit glacier's glad surprise,
Or face the mountain splendours of to-morrow.
| Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy | |