St. Beatenberg

The daylight fell, and vast o’ershadowings
        Filled with their purple dark the valleys under,
        When swift as thought Heaven’s veil was rent
            asunder,
And gave us vision of the mountain kings;
Their thrones—carved ivory, unsubstantial things,
        Such as men only dream of—seemed a wonder
        Of palpitating fire, and grey with thunder
A huge cloud bore them up on plumy wings.

Then forth on Eiger’s topmost peak out-stepped
    The full orbed moon, and swift away she drew
        Death-pale—her envy could not brook the sight,
For while beneath her feet earth’s darkness crept,
    These mountain kings in power and glory grew
        To stay the sun, and to delay the night.

(Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy, p. 111)