CII. Perchance she died in youth: it may be, bow'd With hectic light, the Hesperus of the dead, CIII, Perchance she died in age-surviving all, The wealthiest Roman's wife; Behold his love or pride! CIV. I know not why-but standing thus by thee Is changed and solemn, like the cloudy groan Till I had bodied forth the heated mind Forms from the floating wreck which Ruin leav behind; CV. And from the planks, far shatter'd o'er the rocks, To battle with the ocean and the shocks Where all lies founder'd that was ever dear: CVI. Then let the winds howl on! their harmony With their large eyes, all glistening gray and bright, What are our petty griefs?-let me not number mine. CVII. Cypress and ivy, weed and wallflower grown On what were chambers, arch crush'd, column strown In fragments, choked up vaults, and frescos steep'd In subterranean damps, where the owl peep'd, Deeming it midnight :-Temples, baths, or halls? Pronounce who can; for all that Learning reap'd From her research hath been, that these are wallsBehold the Imperial Mount! 'tis thus the mighty falls. (51) CVIII. There is the moral of all human tales; (52) 'Tis but the same rehearsal of the past, First Freedom, and then Glory-when that fails, Wealth, vice, corruption,-barbarism at last. And History, with all her volumes vast, Hath but one page,-'tis better written here, Where gorgeous Tyranny had thus amass'd All treasures, all delights, that eye or ear, Heart, soul could seek, tongue ask-Away with words draw near, CIX. Admire, exult-despise-laugh, weep,-for here Of Glory's gewgaws shining in the van Till the sun's rays with added flame were fill'd! Where are its golden roofs ? where those who dared to build? CX. Tully was not so eloquent as thou, Thou nameless column with the buried base! To crush the imperial urn, whose ashes slept sublime, (53) CXI. Buried in air, the deep blue sky of Rome, But yielded back his conquests:—he was more With household blood and wine, serenely wore His sovereign virtues-still we Trajan's name adore. (54) |