 | Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy |  |
14
THE WATCH-TOWER
AT STANZSTADT
Where meadows gold with mary-buds, and brown
With beaded burnet, shine beside the mere
And half forbid the passing boat to steer
For Alpnach's waters, poplar-trees look down
Upon the harbour of an inland town,
And there, its feet in waters cool and clear,
Rises a tower that knew not any fear
When justice woke and tyrants were o'erthrown.
With beaded burnet, shine beside the mere
And half forbid the passing boat to steer
For Alpnach's waters, poplar-trees look down
Upon the harbour of an inland town,
And there, its feet in waters cool and clear,
Rises a tower that knew not any fear
When justice woke and tyrants were o'erthrown.
How shouldst thou fear, thou grey-embattled tower,
Though arrow sing and torch was hither hurled,
And all earth's forces leagued against thee came?
For love of country, with o'er-mastering power,
With love for woman, forging bolts of flame,
Could hold thy fortress still against the world.
Though arrow sing and torch was hither hurled,
And all earth's forces leagued against thee came?
For love of country, with o'er-mastering power,
With love for woman, forging bolts of flame,
Could hold thy fortress still against the world.
| Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy | |