Anna Seward

Sonnet XVIII

AN EVENING IN NOVEMBER,

WHICH HAD BEEN STORMY, GRADUALLY CLEARING UP,

IN A MOUNTAINOUS COUNTRY.

Ceas'd is the rain; but heavy drops yet fall

From the drench'd roof;—yet murmurs the sunk wind

Round the dim hills; can yet a passage find

Whistling thro' yon cleft rock, and ruin'd wall.

The swoln and angry torrents heard, appal,

Tho' distant.—A few stars, emerging kind,

Shed their green, trembling beams.—With lustre small,

The moon, her swiftly-passing clouds behind,

Glides o'er that shaded hill.—Now blasts remove

The shadowing clouds, and on the mountain's brow,

Full-orb'd, she shines.—Half sunk within its cove

Heaves the lone boat, with gulphing sound;—and lo!

Bright rolls the settling lake, and brimming rove

The vale's blue rills, and glitter as they flow.