Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Italy: Vols. XI–XIII. 1876–79.
Vesuvius
By William Gibson (1826–1887)B
Fills up the vision! Ever does it breathe
From its hot chasms thick sulphur-clouds, which wreathe
Its summit when the still air is unblown.
Mid-height, the mount, with luscious grape o’ergrown,
Swarms with live villages; while underneath
The surface do the no less live flames seethe
The Titan’s heart; convulséd agony shown
In quake and rending of the solid earth!
Not seldom, with a throe more terrible,
He bursts his bonds, and blazes arméd forth
With vengeance engined in his lurid hell!
Beautiful in thy play, O Spirit of Fire,
Mountains may crush not thine unconquerable ire!