Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Germany: Vols. XVII–XVIII. 1876–79.
The Steamer on the Rhine
By Henry Glassford Bell (18031874)S
Some portly ladies slumbered here and there;
Five gentlemen drank beer; and other two
With greasy whiskers gobbled up a stew;
One read the “Times”; and one was on the rack
Because his trunk was left at Andernack;
The steward went about with cakes and ices,
And German sausages in dumpy slices;
Some pug-nosed dogs lay in some spinsters’ laps;
Some soldiers strutted in some odd-shaped caps;
Promiscuous groups, stretched listless ’neath the awning,
Were smoking, knitting, munching grapes, and yawning:
The breathing landscape swept in glory by,—
“When will they give us dinner?” was the cry;
Green summer smiled upon the vine-clad hills,—
The tourists counted up their little bills;
Old church, and older castle, lovely both,—
“Thank Heaven! at last they lay the tablecloth!”