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Classic and Contemporary Poetry
SWITZERLAND, by JAMES SHERIDAN KNOWLES Poet's Biography First Line: Once switzerland was free! With what a pride Last Line: And think -- I had no master save his own! Variant Title(s): Tell On Switzerland;william Tell On Switzerland Subject(s): Freedom; Switzerland; Liberty; Swiss | |||
ONCE Switzerland was free! With what a pride I used to walk these hills, -- look up to heaven, And bless God that it was so! It was free From end to end, from cliff to lake 't was free! Free as our torrents are, that leap our rocks, And plough our valleys, without asking leave; Or as our peaks, that wear their caps of snow In very presence of the regal sun! How happy was I in it then! I loved Its very storms. Ay, often have I sat In my boat at night, when, midway o'er the lake, The stars went out, and down the mountain gorge The wind came roaring, -- I have sat and eyed The thunder breaking from his cloud, and smiled To see him shake his lightnings o'er my head, And think -- I had no master save his own! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...AN ALPINE PICTURE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH THE PRISONER OF CHILLON by GEORGE GORDON BYRON THE COUNTRY OF A THOUSAND YEARS OF PEACE by JAMES INGRAM MERRILL SWITZERLAND AND ITALY by RICHARD MONCKTON MILNES THOUGHT OF A BRITON ON THE SUBJUGATION OF SWITZERLAND by WILLIAM WORDSWORTH THE SWISS EMIGRANT by LUCY AIKEN MONCH AND JUNGFRAU by ANTON ALEXANDER VON AUERSPERG LINES WRITTEN IN SWITZERLAND by THOMAS LOVELL BEDDOES MY ALPENSTOCK by HENRY GLASSFORD BELL ALFRED THE GREAT TO HIS MEN by JAMES SHERIDAN KNOWLES |
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