Scarcely that Terror on her vantage-coign,

Couchant supreme among the powers of air,

Watches—prepared to pounce—the country wide!

Meanwhile the encouraged valley holds its own,

From the first hut's adventure in descent,

Half home, half hiding-place,—to dome and spire

Befitting the assured metropolis:

Nor means offence to the fort which caps the crag,

All undismantled of a turret-stone,

And bears the banner-pole that creaks at times