Upon the great, skin rafts:

Then on again we fared,

Until the far, dim towers soared in the dawnlight

And we encamped beside a stream,

Beneath dry, rustling palms.

And heavily I slumbered:

And only wakened once, at noon,

When, lifting up my head,

I saw the towers of Babylon, burning blue,

Far off, in the blind heat:

And slept again, till sunset,

When we took our Westward course

Along the low bank of a broad canal,

That glimmered wanly 'neath a moonless sky.

Higher, and higher still,

As we drew slowly nearer,

Arose the vasty walls and serried towers,

That seemed to thrust among the stars,

And on embattled summits bear the night,

Unbowed beneath their burden,

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