Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Switzerland and Austria: Vol. XVI. 1876–79.

Switzerland: Brienz, the Lake

Scene on the Lake of Brienz

By William Wordsworth (1770–1850)

“WHAT know we of the blest above

But that they sing and that they love?”

Yet, if they ever did inspire

A mortal hymn, or shaped the choir,

Now, where those harvest damsels float

Homeward in their rugged boat

(While all the ruffling winds are fled,

Each slumbering on some mountain’s head),

Now, surely, hath that gracious aid

Been felt, that influence is displayed.

Pupils of heaven, in order stand

The rustic maidens, every hand

Upon a sister’s shoulder laid,—

To chant, as glides the boat along,

A simple, but a touching, song;

To chant, as angels do above,

The melodies of peace in love!