CXXXVI. From mighty wrongs to petty perfidy Have I not seen what human things could do? From the loud roar of foaming calumny To the small whisper of the as paltry few, And subtler venom of the reptile crew, The Janus glance of whose significant eye, Learning to lie with silence, would seem true, And without utterance, save the shrug or sigh, Deal round to happy fools its speechless obloquy. CXXXVII. But I have lived, and have not lived in vain: My mind may lose its force, my blood its fire, And my frame perish even in conquering pain, But there is that within me which shall tire Torture and Time, and breathe when I expire; Something unearthly, which they deem not of, Like the remember'd tone of a mute lyre, Shall on their soften'd spirits sink, and move In hearts all rocky now the late remorse of love. CXXXVIII. The seal is set. Now welcome, thou dread power CXXXIX. And here the buzz of eager nations ran, In murmur'd pity, or loud-roar'd applause, As man was slaughter'd by his fellow man. And wherefore slaughter'd? wherefore, but because Such were the bloody Circus' genial laws, And the imperial pleasure. Wherefore not? What matters where we fall to fill the maws Of worms on battle-plains or listed spot? Both are but theatres where the chief actors rot. CXL. I see before me the Gladiator lie: 59 He leans upon his hands his manly brow Consents to death, but conquers agony, And his drooped head sinks gradually low- Were with his heart, and that was far away; - 60 Shall be expire And unavenged? - Arise! ye Goths, and glut your ire! CXLII. But here, where Murder breathed her bloody steam; A ruin CXLIII. yet what ruin! from its mass And marvel the spoil could have appear'd. When the colossal fabric's form is near'd: It will not bear the brightness of the day, Which strearns too much on all years, man, have reft away. CXLLV. But when the rising moon begins to climb Heroes have trod this spot-'tis on their dust ye tread. CXLV. "While stands the Coliseum, Bome shall stand; 63 Thus spake the pilgrims o'er this mighty wall The World, the same wide den-of thieves, or what ye will. |