SO, with the wind behind them, and the oars Still hard at work, they went betwixt the shores Against the ebb, and now full oft espied Trim homesteads here and there on either side, And fair kine grazing, and much woolly sheep, And skin-clad shepherds, roused from midday sleep, Gazing upon them with scared wondering eyes. So now they deemed they might be near their prize; And at the least knew that some town was nigh, And thought to hear new tidings presently, Which happed indeed, for on the turn of tide, At ending of a long reach, they espied A city wondrous fair, which seemed indeed To bar the river's course; but, taking heed, And drawing nigher, soon found out the case, That on an island builded was the place, The more part of it; but four bridges fair, Set thick with goodly houses everywhere, Crossed two and two on each side to the land, Whereon was built, with walls on either hand, A towered outwork, lest that war should fall Upon the land, and midmost of each wall A noble gate; moreover, did they note About the wharves full many a ship and boat. And they beheld the sunlight glistering On arms of men and many a warlike thing, As nigher to the city they were borne, And heard at last some huge, deep booming hoarse Sound from a tower o'er the watery way, Whose last loud note was taken up straightway By many another farther and more near. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE FISH, THE MAN, AND THE SPIRIT (COMPLETE) by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT BEFORE PARTING by ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE BIVOUAC ON A MOUNTAIN SIDE by WALT WHITMAN THE LOVER SHOWETH HOW HE IS FORSAKEN by THOMAS WYATT SYMPHONY OF THE SOIL by EVA K. ANGLESBURG THE DIVISION OF POLAND by EDWIN ARNOLD CLIO, NINE ECLOGUES IN HONOUR OF NINE VIRTUES: 7. OF HOSPITALITY by WILLIAM BASSE A DREAM by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT THE LOVE SONNETS OF PROTEUS: 67. THE THREE AGES OF WOMAN: 2 by WILFRID SCAWEN BLUNT |