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.