Page:The city of dreadful night - and other poems (IA cityofdreadfulni00thomrich).pdf/132

 Brought their wisdom, lore, and wit, To expound or riddle it: Last a porter ventured—"We Might go out ourselves to see."

Thus, upon a summer morn, Lo the city all forlorn; Every house and street and square In the sunshine still and bare, Every galley left to sway Silent in the glittering bay; All the people swarming out, Young and old a joyous rout, Rich and poor, far-streaming through Fields and meadows dark with dew, Crowd on crowd, and throng on throng; Chatter, laughter, jest, and song Deafened all the singing birds, Wildered sober grazing herds.

Up the hillside 'gainst the sun, Where the forest outskirts run; On along the level high, Where the azure of the sky, And the ruddy morning sheen, Drop in fragments through the treen