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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Americas: Vol. XXX. 1876–79.

Mexico: Mexico, the City

Mexico

By Robert Southey (1774–1843)

(From Madoc)

THOU art beautiful,

Queen of the Valley! thou art beautiful!

Thy walls, like silver, sparkle to the sun;

Melodious wave thy groves, thy garden-sweets

Enrich the pleasant air, upon the lake

Lie the long shadows of thy towers, and high

In heaven thy temple-pyramids arise,

Upon whose summit now, far visible

Against the clear blue sky, the Cross of Christ

Proclaims unto the nations round the news

Of thy redemption. Thou art beautiful,

Aztlan! O City of the Cymbric Prince!

Long mayest thou flourish in thy beauty, long

Prosper beneath the righteous conqueror,

Who conquers to redeem! Long years of peace

And happiness await thy Lord and thee,

Queen of the Valley!