Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Italy: Vols. XI–XIII. 1876–79.
Venice
By Frances Anne Kemble (1809–1893)N
Steals o’er the ocean,
And with departed day
Hushed seems its motion.
Slowly o’er yon blue coast
Onward she ’s treading,
Till its dark line is lost,
’Neath her veil spreading.
The bark on the rippling deep
Hath found a pillow,
And the pale moonbeams sleep
On the green billow.
Bound by her emerald zone
Venice is lying,
And round her marble crown
Night-winds are sighing.
From the high lattice now
Bright eyes are gleaming,
That seem on night’s dark brow,
Brighter stars beaming.
Now o’er the blue lagune
Light barks are dancing,
And ’neath the silver moon
Swift oars are glancing.
Strains from the mandolin
Steal o’er the water,
Echo replies between
To mirth and laughter.
O’er the wave seen afar
Brilliantly shining,
Gleams like a fallen star
Venice reclining.