Poems of Places Oceana 1 V. (Volume 16); England 4 Scotland 3 V Iceland, Switzerland, Greece, Russia, Asia, 3 America 5 - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1877 Excerpt: ... Reuss, the River. URSEREN. FROM the green vale of Urseren smooth and wide Descend we now, the maddened Renss our guide; By rocks that, shutting out the blessed day, Cling tremblingly to rocks as loose as they; By cells upon whose image, while he prays, The kneeling peasant scarcely dares to gaze; By many a votive death-cross planted near, And watered duly with the pious tear, That faded silent from the upward eye, Unmoved with each rnde form of peril nigh; Fixed on the anchor left by Him who saves Alike in whelming snows and roaring waves. William Wordsworth. THE DEVIL'S BRIDGE. THIS bridge is called the Devil's Bridge. With a single arch, from ridge to ridge, It leaps across the terrible chasm Yawning beneath us, black and deep, As if in some convulsive spasm, The summits of the hills had cracked, And made a road for the cataract, That raves and rages down the sleep! Never any bridge but this Could stand across the wild abyss; All the rest, of wood or stone, By the Devil's hand were overthrown. He toppled crags from the precipice, And whatsoe'er was built by day In the night was swept away: None could stand but this alone. I showed you in the valley a boulder Marked with the imprint of bis shoulder; As he was bearing it up this way, A peasant, passing, cried, "Herr Je!" And the Devil dropped it in his fright, And vanished snddenly out of sight! Abbot Giraldus of Einsiedel, For pilgrims on their way to Rome, Built this at last, with a single arch, Under which, on its endless march, Runs the river, white with foam, Like a thread through the eye of a needle. And the Devil promised to let it stand, Under compact and condition That the first living thing which crossed Should be surrendered into his hand, And be beyond redemption lost. » » At...