Quickened with golden fire the Alpine peaks,
Plumed with their sombre pines, and crowned with snow,
In frozen brilliance, sparkling: lesser hills
Rose gradually, shouldering aloft,
Abrupt and cyclopean monuments
Of elemental anger, and beyond
Rose dome on dome of everlasting snow,
Blue glaciers, that broke the sharp white fire
Of dawn into a myriad flaming swords,
Invading the ethereal, azure sky