"Combien faudrait-il de peaux d'Espagne pour faire un gant de cette grandeur?" A play upon the words @3gant@1, a glove, and @3Gand@1, the French for Ghent. On St. Baron's tower, commanding Half of Flanders, his domain, Charles the Emperor once was standing, While beneath him on the landing Stood Duke Alva and his train. Like a print in books of fables, Or a model made for show, With its pointed roofs and gables, Dormer windows, scrolls and labels, Lay the city far below. Through its squares and streets and alleys Poured the populace of Ghent; As a routed army rallies, Or as rivers run through valleys, Hurrying to their homes they went "Nest of Lutheran misbelievers!" Cried Duke Alva as he gazed; "Haunt of traitors and deceivers, Stronghold of insurgent weavers, Let it to the ground be razed!" On the Emperor's cap the feather Nods, as laughing he replies: "How many skins of Spanish leather, Think you, would, if stitched together Make a glove of such a size?" | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FAITH AND DESPONDENCY by EMILY JANE BRONTE WRITTEN IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY ASYLUM by JOHN CLARE A POET'S EPITAPH by EBENEZER ELLIOTT ALMS by EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY LADY OF CASTLENORE; A.D. 1700 by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH CURE FOR AFFLICTIONS by ARCHILOCHUS |