Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VII. Descriptive: Narrative. 1904. | | | | Descriptive Poems: III. Places | | To Rome | | Francisco de Quevedo y Villegas (1580–1645) |
| | From the Spanish by Benjamin B. Wiffen
Buried in Its Ruins
STRANGER, ’t is vain! midst Rome thou seek’st for Rome | |
| In vain; thy foot is on her throne—her grave: | |
| Her walls are dust; Time’s conquering banners wave | |
| O’er all her hills; hills which themselves entomb. | |
| Yes! the proud Aventine is its own womb; | 5 |
| The royal Palatine is ruin’s slave; | |
| And medals, moldering trophies of the brave, | |
| Mark but the triumphs of oblivious gloom. | |
| Tiber alone endures, whose ancient tide | |
| Worshipped the Queen of Cities on her throne | 10 |
| And now, as round her sepulchre, complains. | |
| O Rome! the steadfast grandeur of thy pride | |
| And beauty all is fled; and that alone | |
| Which seemed so fleet and fugitive remains. | | | | |
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