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ReadingWillow structured literacy program for Australian students
Poetry Library

— Stephen Crane

I stood upon a high place,

And saw, below, many devils

Running, leaping,

And carousing in sin.

…

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XIII. Claude to Eustace.

37 lines
Arthur Hugh Clough·1819–1861
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es, on Montorio's height for a last farewell of the city,--So it appears; though then I was quite uncertain about it.So, however, it was. And now to explain the proceeding.I was to go, as I told you, I think, with the people to Florence.Only the day before, the foolish family VernonMade some uneasy remarks, as we walked to our lodging together,As to intentions forsooth, and so forth. I was astounded,Horrified quite; and obtaining just then, as it happened, an offer(No common favour) of seeing the great Ludovisi collection,Why, I made this a pretence, and wrote that they must excuse me.How could I go? Great Heavens! to conduct a permitted flirtationUnder those vulgar eyes, the observed of such observers!Well, but I now, by a series of fine diplomatic inquiries,Find from a sort of relation, a good and sensible woman,Who is remaining at Rome with a brother too ill for removal,That it was wholly unsanctioned, unknown,--not, I think, by Georgina:She, however, ere this,--and that is the best of the story,--She and the Vernon, thank Heaven, are wedded and gone--honey-mooning.So--on Montorio's height for a last farewell of the city.Tibur I have not seen, nor the lakes that of old I had dreamt of;Tibur I shall not see, nor Anio's waters, nor deep en-Folded in Sabine recesses the valley and villa of Horace;Tibur I shall not see;--but something better I shall see.Twice I have tried before, and failed in getting the horses;Twice I have tried and failed: this time it shall not be a failure. Therefore farewell, ye hills, and ye, ye envineyarded ruins!Therefore farewell, ye walls, palaces, pillars, and domes!Therefore farewell, far seen, ye peaks of the mythic Albano,Seen from Montorio's height, Tibur and Aesula's hills!Ah, could we once, ere we go, could we stand, while, to ocean descending,Sinks o'er the yellow dark plain slowly the yellow broad sun,Stand, from the forest emerging at sunset, at once in the champaign,Open, but studded with trees, chestnuts umbrageous and old,E'en in those fair open fields that incurve to thy beautiful hollow,Nemi, imbedded in wood, Nemi, inurned in the hill!--Therefore farewell, ye plains, and ye hills, and the City Eternal!Therefore farewell! We depart, but to behold you again!
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