IX. On two dread mountains, from whose crest, Might seem, the eagle, for her brood, Would ne'er have hung her dizzy nest, Those tower-encircled cities stood. A vision strange such towers to see, X. And columns framed of marble white, Shot o'er the vales, or lustre lent XI. But still the Lady heard that clang Among the mountains shook alway, On those high domes her look she cast. XII. Sudden, from out that city sprung A light that made the earth grow red ; Two flames that each with quivering tongue Licked its high domes, and over head Among those mighty towers and fanes Dropped fire, as a volcano rains Its sulphurous ruin on the plains. XIII. And hark! a rush as if the deep Had burst its bonds; she looked behind And saw over the western steep A raging flood descend, and wind XIV. And now those raging billows came And on a little plank, the flow Of the whirlpool bore her to and fro. XV. The flames were fiercely vomited O'er that vast flood's suspended foam, XVI. The plank whereon that Lady sate Was driven through the chasms, about and about, Between the peaks so desolate Of the drowning mountains, in and out, As the thistle-beard on a whirlwind sails. XVII. At last her plank an eddy crost, And bore her to the city's wall, Which now the flood had reached almost; To hear the fire roar and hiss Through the domes of those mighty palaces. XVIII. The eddy whirled her round and round XIX. For it was filled with sculptures rarest, Of winged shapes, whose legions range Throughout the sleep of those that are, Like this same Lady, good and fair. XX. And as she looked, still lovelier grew Those marble forms; the sculptor sure Was a strong spirit, and the hue Of his own mind did there endure After the touch, whose power had braided Such grace, was in some sad change faded. XXI. She looked, the flames were dim, the flood Winding through hills in solitude; Those marble shapes then seemed to quiver, And their fair limbs to float in motion, Like weeds unfolding in the ocean. XXII. And their lips moved; one seemed to speak, The statues gave a joyous scream, XXIII. The dizzy flight of that phantom pale Of her dark eyes the dream did creep, As any waking eyes can view. |