'Fire!' WAY there, to the east- "Towards the Surrey ridge, "I see a puff of dunnish smoke "Over the Southwark Bridge: " A single curl of murky mist London! that deck'st thyself with wave-won spoils, Sea-gathered wealth, spires, palaces, And temples high, Well might thy goodly burgesses exclaim, "Behold-and die ! * "Behold these streets; survey these monster marts, "The lordly 'Changes of our merchant kings; "Consider this great Thames, with its broad breast "Brave with white wings. "Wharves, stately with warehouses, "Docks, with a world's treasure-chest in bail, "What hand shall touch ye? "What rash foe assail? " ... "Fire! to the eastward-Fire !!” A hurrying tramp of feet A sickly haze that wraps the town A crackling sound-a cry! And yonder, up over the furnace pot, * "See Naples, and die."-Italian Proverb. That smokes like the smoke of the cities of Lot, Fire fire ghastly fire! It broadens overhead; Red gleam the roofs in lurid light The heav'ns are glowing red. From east to west-from west to east! "Fire! fire the engines! fire! A raging, quivering gulf... A wild stream, blazing by . . . Red ruin. . . fearful flaming leaps . . White faces to the sky... 4 |