Rome, Rome! thou art no more <br />As thou hast been! <br />On thy seven hills of yore <br />Thou satst a queen. <br /> <br />Thou hadst thy triumphs then <br />Purpling the street, <br />Leaders and sceptred men <br />Bow'd at thy feet. <br /> <br />They that thy mantle wore, <br />As gods were seen– <br />Rome, Rome! thou art no more <br />As thou hast been! <br /> <br />Rome! thine imperial brow <br />Never shall rise: <br />What hast thou left thee now? <br />Thou hast thy skies! <br /> <br />Blue, deeply blue, they are, <br />Gloriously bright! <br />Veiling thy wastes afar <br />With colour'd light. <br /> <br />Thou hast the sunset's glow, <br />Rome, for thy dower, <br />Flushing tall cypress-bough, <br />Temple and tower! <br /> <br />And all sweet sounds are thine, <br />Lovely to hear, <br />While night, o'er tomb and shrine, <br />Rests darkly clear. <br /> <br />Many a solemn hymn, <br />By starlight sung, <br />Sweeps thro' the arches dim, <br />Thy wrecks among. <br /> <br />Many a flute's low swell, <br />On thy soft air <br />Lingers, and loves to dwell <br />With summer there. <br /> <br />Thou hast the South's rich gift <br />Of sudden song, <br />A charmed fountain, swift, <br />Joyous, and strong. <br /> <br />Thou hast fair forms that move <br />With queenly tread; <br />Thou hast proud fanes above <br />Thy mighty dead. <br /> <br />Yet wears thy Tiber's shore <br />A mournful mien: <br />Rome, Rome! thou art no more <br />As thou hast been!<br /><br />Felicia Dorothea Hemans<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/roman-girl-s-song/
