"Calais" [poem]
calais
133.0
110,10
The sands are in the sunlight sleeping
110,10
1480
123. 4.
123. 4.
The ocean Barrier is beating a
Again again forevermore
Haste the light curlings to the Shore
And yet advance & yet retreat
That from the sand the impression sweep
Ruskin's line number
5
System generated line number
5O
n
f
playful childhoods daring feetThat seeks within its sandy cell
The pebble bright or purple shell 1
Far in its clear expanse l
ies
ay
wideUnruffledly that ocean tide
Ruskin's line number
10
System generated line number
10Stretching away where paler grew
The Heavens bright unclouded blue
And far away in distance dying
Old Englands Cliffy coast is lying
And beautiful as summer cloud
Ruskin's line number
15
System generated line number
15By the low sun empurpled proud
Strange that a space from shore to shore
So soon so easily passed oer
Should yet a wide distinction place
Twixt Man & Man twixt Race &
System generated line number
20
Ruskin's line number
20Sudden & marked the change you find
Religion Language even mind 2
That you might think that oceans span
Marked the varieties of Man
"Cassel" [poem]
The way was long & yet twas sweet
Thro many a shady soft retreat
Where the broad willow semblance gave
of Weeping Beauty in the Wave
And Elm with massy foliage pressed
And feathery aspens quivering Crest
And many a spiry poplar glade
And Hazels rich Entangled shade
While onward as advancing still
From Omers plain 3 to Cassells hill 4
Far yet more far the Landscape threw
Its deep immeasurable Blue
Oh beautiful those plains were showing
Where Summers Sun was hotly glowing
Many a Battle field lay spread
Once the dark Dwelling of the Dead
But fruitful now their Champaignswave
With bending Grain on soldiers Grave
While far beneath in long array
The priestly orders wound their way 5
Heavy the massive banners rolled
Rich wrought with gems and stiff with gold
While as the cross came borne on high
Beneath its crimson canopy
Many the haughty head that bowed
Sunk his high crest the warrior proud
T The priest his glance benignant cast
And murmured blessings as he past
While round the hillside echoing free
Rung the loud hymning melody.
Many a monkish voice was there
Many a trumpet rent the Aar air
And softer, sweeter, yet the same
The sounds in failing cadence came.
No marvel, that the pomp and pride
Of Romes religion thus should hide
The serpent folds beneath that roll
The poison mantling in the bowl 6
Ruskin's line number
25
System generated line number
25Thro many a shady soft retreat
Where the broad willow semblance gave
of Weeping Beauty in the Wave
And Elm with massy foliage pressed
And feathery aspens quivering Crest
30
System generated line number
30And many a spiry poplar glade
And Hazels rich Entangled shade
While onward as advancing still
From Omers plain 3 to Cassells hill 4
Far yet more far the Landscape threw
System generated line number
35Its deep immeasurable Blue
Oh beautiful those plains were showing
Where Summers Sun was hotly glowing
Many a Battle field lay spread
Once the dark Dwelling of the Dead
System generated line number
40But fruitful now their Champaignswave
With bending Grain on soldiers Grave
While far beneath in long array
The priestly orders wound their way 5
Heavy the massive banners rolled
Ruskin's line number
45
System generated line number
45Rich wrought with gems and stiff with gold
While as the cross came borne on high
Beneath its crimson canopy
Many the haughty head that bowed
Sunk his high crest the warrior proud
Ruskin's line number
50
System generated line number
50T The priest his glance benignant cast
And murmured blessings as he past
While round the hillside echoing free
Rung the loud hymning melody.
Many a monkish voice was there
Ruskin's line number
55
System generated line number
55Many a trumpet rent the Aar air
And softer, sweeter, yet the same
The sounds in failing cadence came.
No marvel, that the pomp and pride
Of Romes religion thus should hide
Ruskin's line number
60
System generated line number
60The serpent folds beneath that roll
The poison mantling in the bowl 6
"Lille" [poem]
Lille
Oh red the blushing east awoke
And bright the morn on Cassel broke
Along the green hillside we flew
Flashed the clear sunshine in the dew
That on the clustering herbage hung
That to the tangled copse wood clung
That shot like stars through every shade
And glanced on every noontide
glade
At length by many a wind descending
That ever to the plain were bending
Farther and farther still we pressed
From Cassels insulated 7 crest
That back retiring fainter still
Showed the rich outlines of its hill
And faded in the purple haze
That spoke the coming noontide blaze
That noontide blaze delayed not long
On Tournays towers 8 twas fierce and strong
And ere we gained the middle way
The glow was like an U Afric day
Full upon Lilles high ramparts round 9
On massive wall and moated mound
Shot the fierce sun his glaring ray
As bent we on our burning way
Till past the narrow drawbridge length
The massive gates portcullised strength
And moat whose waves found steepy shore 10
Where forward high
And where the sentinels were set
High on the dizzy parapet
Till the last portals echoes woke
And Lille in all it upon us sudden broke
Giving to view another scene
So clear, so noble so serene
Twould seem enchantments varied hue
On palace street and avenue
Colossal form and figure fair
Seemed moving, breathing, living there
The vaulted arch where sunlight pure
Might never pierce the deep obscure
Where, broadly barred the ancient door
Was with rich carving imaged oer
Those ancient piles rose huge and high
In rich irregularity
The bending gothic gable roof
Of past magnificence gave proof
The modern windows formal square
With Saxon arch was mingled there
Whose stern recesses dark and deep
The figured iron stanchions 12 keep.
And bright the morn on Cassel broke
Along the green hillside we flew
Ruskin's line number
65
System generated line number
65Flashed the clear sunshine in the dew
That on the clustering herbage hung
That to the tangled copse wood clung
That shot like stars through every shade
And glanced on every noontide
wildwood
Ruskin's line number
70
System generated line number
70At length by many a wind descending
That ever to the plain were bending
Farther and farther still we pressed
From Cassels insulated 7 crest
That back retiring fainter still
Ruskin's line number
75
System generated line number
75Showed the rich outlines of its hill
And faded in the purple haze
That spoke the coming noontide blaze
That noontide blaze delayed not long
On Tournays towers 8 twas fierce and strong
Ruskin's line number
80
System generated line number
80And ere we gained the middle way
The glow was like an U Afric day
Full upon Lilles high ramparts round 9
On massive wall and moated mound
Shot the fierce sun his glaring ray
Ruskin's line number
85
System generated line number
85As bent we on our burning way
Till past the narrow drawbridge length
The massive gates portcullised strength
And moat whose waves found steepy shore 10
Where forward high
huge
the bastion bore
11
Ruskin's line number
90
System generated line number
90And where the sentinels were set
High on the dizzy parapet
Till the last portals echoes woke
And Lille in all it upon us sudden broke
Giving to view another scene
Ruskin's line number
95
System generated line number
95So clear, so noble so serene
Twould seem enchantments varied hue
On palace street and avenue
Colossal form and figure fair
Seemed moving, breathing, living there
Ruskin's line number
100
System generated line number
100The vaulted arch where sunlight pure
Might never pierce the deep obscure
Where, broadly barred the ancient door
Was with rich carving imaged oer
Ruskin's line number
105
System generated line number
105In rich irregularity
The bending gothic gable roof
Of past magnificence gave proof
The modern windows formal square
With Saxon arch was mingled there
Ruskin's line number
110
System generated line number
110Whose stern recesses dark and deep
The figured iron stanchions 12 keep.
"Brussels" [poem]
Brussels
The racking clouds were eddying fast
Upon the bosom of the blast 13
In wild confusion fiercely driven
Fled they across the face of
The fitful gust came shrieking high
The rattling rain flew driving by
But where the horizon stretched away
Towards the couch of parting day
A streak of paly light was seen
The heaped and darkling clouds between
Against that light for time full brief
Brussels arose in dark relief
Colossal on the western fire
Seemed massive tower and slender spire
Nearer and nearer as we drew
More strongly marked the outlines grew
Till of the buildings you might see
Distinct the gothic tracerie
The drawbridge rung, we past the gate 14
And regal Brussels entered straight
It stirs, to see the human tide
That marks a city in its pride
That fitful oceans eddying sweep
Is still more changeful than the deep
For those dark billows as they roll
Mark movements of the human soul.
Yet in that city there was none
Of that confused and busy hum
That tells of traffic & of trade
No, Brussels time of power is
Yet in her streets was something seen
Spoke what the city once had been
Our rapid course as now we wheel
Where she rose the huge Hotel de ville 15
The noble spires proportions high
Stood forth upon the cloudy sky
In rich all its fretted majesty.
And his last light the sun had sent
On Buttress and on Battlement
That while the houses were arrayed
In all the depth of twilight shade
Yet shot there faint a yellow glow
Where the tall arches shafted show
Glimmered a moment there the ray
Then fainter grew, and past away
Oh Brussels, Brussels thou hast been
Th Of many an action strange, the scene
Thou sawst, on Julys dreadful night 16
The veterans rushing to the fight
Thou heardest, when the word was spoken
At midnight thy repose was broken
The
Battalions bursting forth to bleed
Till the dark phalanx waving crest
Forth from thy gates was forward prest
And Breaking with the morning mild
The distant roar of battle wild
And later still the rabble shout
And revolutions riot rout
Leaving such marks as long shall tell
Of dark destruction fierce and fell.
Upon the bosom of the blast 13
In wild confusion fiercely driven
Ruskin's line number
115
System generated line number
115Fled they across the face of
The fitful gust came shrieking high
The rattling rain flew driving by
But where the horizon stretched away
Towards the couch of parting day
Ruskin's line number
120mind
c
System generated line number
120A streak of paly light was seen
The heaped and darkling clouds between
Against that light for time full brief
Brussels arose in dark relief
Colossal on the western fire
Ruskin's line number
125
System generated line number
125Seemed massive tower and slender spire
Nearer and nearer as we drew
More strongly marked the outlines grew
Till of the buildings you might see
Distinct the gothic tracerie
Ruskin's line number
130
System generated line number
130The drawbridge rung, we past the gate 14
And regal Brussels entered straight
It stirs, to see the human tide
That marks a city in its pride
That fitful oceans eddying sweep
Ruskin's line number
135
System generated line number
135Is still more changeful than the deep
For those dark billows as they roll
Mark movements of the human soul.
Yet in that city there was none
Of that confused and busy hum
Ruskin's line number
140
System generated line number
140That tells of traffic & of trade
No, Brussels time of power is
was
spedYet in her streets was something seen
Spoke what the city once had been
Our rapid course as now we wheel
Ruskin's line number
145
System generated line number
145Where she rose the huge Hotel de ville 15
The noble spires proportions high
Stood forth upon the cloudy sky
In rich all its fretted majesty.
And his last light the sun had sent
Ruskin's line number
150
System generated line number
150On Buttress and on Battlement
That while the houses were arrayed
In all the depth of twilight shade
Yet shot there faint a yellow glow
Where the tall arches shafted show
Ruskin's line number
155
System generated line number
155Glimmered a moment there the ray
Then fainter grew, and past away
Oh Brussels, Brussels thou hast been
Th Of many an action strange, the scene
Thou sawst, on Julys dreadful night 16
Ruskin's line number
160
System generated line number
160The veterans rushing to the fight
Thou heardest, when the word was spoken
At midnight thy repose was broken
The
By
tramp of men and neigh of steedBattalions bursting forth to bleed
Ruskin's line number
165
System generated line number
165Till the dark phalanx waving crest
Forth from thy gates was forward prest
And Breaking with the morning mild
The distant roar of battle wild
And later still the rabble shout
Ruskin's line number
170
System generated line number
170And revolutions riot rout
Leaving such marks as long shall tell
Of dark destruction fierce and fell.
"The Meuse" [poem]
THE MEUSE
The Meuse
The Meuse
The sky was clear, the morn was gay
In promise of a cloudless day
Fresh flew the breeze with whose light wing
Aspen and oak were quivering
From floweret dank it dashed the dew
The harebell bent its blossom blue
And from the Meuse the mist wreaths 17 grey
That morning breeze had swept away
Showing such scenes as well might seem
The fairy vision of a dream 18
For changing still and still as fair
Rock‸
Peak over peak, fantastic ever d
And grey and gaunt their lichened head
Rose sheerly from the rivers bed 19
Whose mantling wave, in foamy sheet
Their stern projecting bases beat
And lashed to fury in his pride
In circling whirlpools swept the tide
And threatening on some future day
Those mighty rocks to tear away
What though their front should seem to be
A barrier to eternity 20
But on its side the cliffs between
Were mazy forests ever seen
That the tall cliffs steep flanks so grey
Were clothed in mantle green and gay
Long time along that d e dell so deep
Beside the rivers bed we sweep
So steep the mighty crests inclined f
None other pathway you might find
Till the tall cliffs gigantic grace
To undulating hills gave place
And vineyards clothe the bending brow
Stead of the clinging copsewood now
In promise of a cloudless day
Ruskin's line number
175
System generated line number
175Fresh flew the breeze with whose light wing
Aspen and oak were quivering
From floweret dank it dashed the dew
The harebell bent its blossom blue
And from the Meuse the mist wreaths 17 grey
Ruskin's line number
180
System generated line number
180That morning breeze had swept away
Showing such scenes as well might seem
The fairy vision of a dream 18
For changing still and still as fair
Rock‸
wave
and wood were mingled there
Ruskin's line number
185
System generated line number
185Peak over peak, fantastic ever d
And grey and gaunt their lichened head
Rose sheerly from the rivers bed 19
Whose mantling wave, in foamy sheet
Ruskin's line number
190
System generated line number
190Their stern projecting bases beat
And lashed to fury in his pride
In circling whirlpools swept the tide
And threatening on some future day
Those mighty rocks to tear away
Ruskin's line number
195
System generated line number
195What though their front should seem to be
A barrier to eternity 20
But on its side the cliffs between
Were mazy forests ever seen
That the tall cliffs steep flanks so grey
System generated line number
200Were clothed in mantle green and gay
Long time along that d e dell so deep
Ruskin's line number
202Beside the rivers bed we sweep
So steep the mighty crests inclined f
None other pathway you might find
Ruskin's line number
205
System generated line number
205Till the tall cliffs gigantic grace
To undulating hills gave place
And vineyards clothe the bending brow
Stead of the clinging copsewood now