Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and Holland: Vols. XIV–XV. 1876–79. | | | | Spain: Sierra Nevada | | In the Sierra | | Théophile Gautier (1811–1872) |
| | Translated by C. F. Bates
WILD is my passion for these summits proud! | |
| Their shivering feet plants never dare to set | |
| Where lofty heads hide ’neath a silver shroud; | |
| On these sharp peaks how blunt the plough would get! | |
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| No wanton vine, no golden grain is here; | 5 |
| Naught hints of man or of his curse of care; | |
| An eagle-host sails their free atmosphere, | |
| And echo hisses back the bandits’ air. | |
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| Their dower, beauty, only pleasure yields, | |
| They are not useful, send no gifts abroad, | 10 |
| But I prefer them to the fertile fields, | |
| So far from heaven we never can see God! | | | | |
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