POETRY.
RHINE.SIDE.
BY queenly Aix to pretty Bonn—
And then athwart the river, In sheer idlesse we wandered on, As fain to stray for ever.
With endless shift of Light and Shade Fair Cloudland decked the scenery ; And, rain-refreshed, brown Autumn made Herself new Summer-greenery.
Anew leapt out the parchod rills, Anew the dry grass sprouted, A second life was on the hills, And 'twist the seasons doubted.
In golden shine the royal Rhine His dancing wave uplifted ; The rafts by Loreley's mountain-shrine And song-famed reefs were drifted.
The glory fell on wood and dell, On ruined shrine and fastness, Where the Stream-Spirit weaves his spell Of legendary vastness.
For still with murmur and with roar Ran on the storied river, As if each robber-haunted shore Should haunted be for ever.
Once more from his despairing height Young Roland on his maiden Gazed through the dim and mocking night, Bereft and sorrow-laden,- While o'er the pale and broken nun, With love-troth vainly plighted, The Dragon-Rock frowned sadly down On heart and passion blighted.
Once more the wild marauding bands Broke law and fear asunder, And wrought their death-work through the lands, For vengeance or for plunder ; And foreign force and foreign hosts Brought sword and fire to pillage The restful homes, the peaceful coasts, The ingle in the village.
The homes are gone—the hosts have passed Into the Great Uncertain; The fateful pall is o'er them cast, The impenetrable curtain.
The harsh steam-whistle calls and wakes Their echoes shrill and lonely ; The busy traveller, passing, takes Note of the moment only.
But, storm or shine, the rushing Rhine Flows on—the deathless river, Whose harmonies, by grace divine, Reverberate for ever.
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