Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VII. Descriptive: Narrative. 1904. | | | | Descriptive Poems: III. Places | | The Pantheon | | Lord Byron (1788–1824) |
| | From “Childe Harold,” Canto IV.
SIMPLE, erect, severe, austere, sublime,— | |
| Shrine of all saints and temple of all gods, | |
| From Jove to Jesus,—spared and blest by time; | |
| Looking tranquillity, while falls or nods | |
| Arch, empire, each thing round thee, and man plods | 5 |
| His way through thorns to ashes,—glorious dome! | |
| Shalt thou not last? Time’s scythe and tyrants’ rods | |
| Shiver upon thee,—sanctuary and home | |
| Of art and piety,—Pantheon!—pride of Rome! | |
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| Relic of nobler days and noblest arts! | 10 |
| Despoiled yet perfect, with thy circle spreads | |
| A holiness appealing to all hearts. | |
| To art a model; and to him who treads | |
| Rome for the sake of ages, Glory sheds | |
| Her light through thy sole aperture; to those | 15 |
| Who worship, here are altars for their beads; | |
| And they who feel for genius may repose | |
| Their eyes on honored forms, whose busts around them close. | | | | |
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