"Away there, to the east—

"Towards the Surrey ridge,—

"I see a puff of dunnish smoke

"Over the Southwark Bridge:"—

A single curl of murky mist

That scales the summer air:

And the watchman wound his listless way

Slow down the turret stair.

London! that deck'st thyself with wave-won spoils,

Sea-gather d wealth—Spires, palaces,

And temples high;

Well might thy goodly burgesses exclaim

"See this—and die! *—

"See these great streets; survey these monster marts;

"The lordly'Changes of our merchant kings;—

"Behold this Thames, with all its flutt'ring breast

"Brave with white wings.—

"Wharves, stately with warehouses—

"Docks, with a world's treasure-chest in bail—

"What hand shall touch ye?

"What rash foe assail?"

"Fire! to the eastward—Fire!

A hurrying tramp of feet,—

A sickly haze that wraps the town

Like a leaden winding-sheet,—

A smothering smoke is in the air—

A crackling sound—a cry!—

And yonder, up over the furnace pot

That smokes like the smoke of the Cities of Lot,

There's something fierce and hissing and hot

That licks the very sky!

* The Italians have a proverb, "See Naples, and die"

Fire! fire! ghastly fire!

It broadens overhead;

Red gleam the roofs in lurid light

The Heav'ns are glowing-red.

From east to west—from west to east!—

Red runs the turbid Thames—

"Fire! fire! the engines! fire!

"Or half the town's in flames—

"Fire———"

A raging, quivering gulf...

A wild stream, blazing by...

Red ruin... fearful flaming leaps...

White faces to the sky....

"The engines, Ho! back for your lives!"

And out the Firemen dash'd;

"Stand clear in front! room, townsmen, room!"—

Like lightning thro' the gath'ring gloom

The swarthy helmets flash'd:

Stand from the causeway—Horse and Man!—

Back, while there's time for aid—

Back, gilded coach!—back, lordly steed S—

There's fear and fate hangs on their speed,

And life and death and daring deed,

Room for the Fire Brigade!