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Classic and Contemporary Poetry


ECHO, UPON THE GEMMI by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH

Poet Analysis

First Line: WHAT BEAST OF CHASE HATH BROKEN FROM THE COVER?
Last Line: A THOUSAND GHOSTLY FEARS AND HAUNTING THOUGHTS PROCEED!
Subject(s): GEMMI (MOUNTAIN), SWITZERLAND;

WHAT beast of chase hath broken from the cover?
Stern Gemmi listens to as full a cry,
As multitudinous a harmony
Of sounds, as rang the heights of Latmos over,
When, from the soft couch of her sleeping lover,
Up-starting, Cynthia skimmed the mountain-dew
In keen pursuit, and gave, where'er she flew,
Impetuous motion to the stars above her.
A solitary wolf-dog, ranging on
Through the bleak concave, wakes this wondrous chime
Of aery voices locked in unison, --
Faint, far-off, near, deep, solemn and sublime!
So from the body of one guilty deed
A thousand ghostly fears and haunting thoughts proceed!



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