Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
England: Vols. I–IV. 1876–79.
Pevensey
By William Lisle Bowles (1762–1850)F
But when the weak winds, wafted from the main,
Through each lone arch, like spirits that complain,
Come hollow to my ear, I meditate
On this world’s passing pageant, and the lot
Of those who once might proudly, in their prime,
Have stood with giant port, till, bowed by time
Or injury, their ancient boast forgot,
They might have sunk like thee; though thus forlorn
They lift their heads with venerable hairs
Bespent, majestic yet, and as in scorn
Of mortal vanities and short-lived cares;
Even so dost thou, lifting thy forehead gray,
Smile at the tempest, and Time’s sweeping sway!