Henry Wadsworth Longfellow — To the River Rhone

Thou Royal River, born of sun and shower        &nbsp In chambers purple with the Alpine glow,        &nbsp Wrapped in the spotless ermine of the snow        &nbsp And rocked by tempests!—at the appointed hour Forth, like a steel-clad horseman from a tower,        &nbsp With clang and clink of harness dost thou go        &nbsp To meet thy vassal torrents, that below        &nbsp Rush to receive thee and obey thy power. And now thou movest in triumphal march,        &nbsp A king among the rivers! On thy way        &nbspA hundred towns await and welcome thee; Bridges uplift for thee the stately arch,        &nbsp Vineyards encircle thee with garlands gay,        &nbsp And fleets attend thy progress to the sea!