XXVI.

The ice-vaults trembled, when that peal came rending

The frozen stillness which around them hung;

From cliff to cliff the avalanche descending

Gave answer, till the sky’s blue hollow rung;

And the flame-signals through the midnight sprung

From the Surennen rocks, like banners streaming

To the far Seelisberg; whence light was flung

On Grutli’s field, till all the red lake gleaming

Shone out, a meteor-heaven in its wild splendour seeming.