XCVIII.

Yet, Freedom! yet thy banner, torn, but flying,
Streams like the thunder-storm against the wind;
Thy trumpet voice, though broken now and dying,
The loudest still the tempest leaves behind;
Thy tree hath lost its blossoms, and the rind,
Chopp'd by the axe, looks rough and little worth,
But the sap lasts,-and still the seed we find
Sown deep, even in the bosom of the North;

So shall a better spring less bitter fruit bring forth.

XCIX.

There is a stern round tower of other days, (49)

Firm as a fortress, with its fence of stone,

Such as an army's baffled strength delays,

Standing with half its battlements alone,
And with two thousand years of ivy grown,
The garland of eternity, where wave

The green leaves over all by time o'erthrown ;

What was this tower of strength? within its cave

What treasure lay so lock'd, so hid?-A woman's grave.

C.

But who was she, the lady of the dead,

Tomb'd in a palace? Was she chaste and fair?
Worthy a king's—or more-a Roman's bed?

What race of chiefs and heroes did she bear?

What daughter of her beauties was the heir?
How lived-how loved-how died she? Was she not
So honour'd-and conspicuously there,

Where meaner relics must not dare to rot,

Placed to commemorate a more than mortal lot?

CI.

Was she as those who love their lords, or they
Who love the lords of others? such have been
Even in the olden time Rome's annals say.
Was she a matron of Cornelia's mien,

Or the light air of Egypt's graceful queen,
Profuse of joy-or 'gainst it did she war,
Inveterate in virtue? Did she lean

To the soft side of the heart, or wisely bar

Love from amongst her griefs?-for such the affections

are.

CII.

Perchance she died in youth: it may be, bow'd
With woes far heavier than the ponderous tomb
That weigh'd upon her gentle dust, a cloud
Might gather o'er her beauty, and a gloom

In her dark eye, prophetic of the doom

Heaven gives its favourites-early death; yet shed (50) A sunset charm around her, and illume

With hectic light, the Hesperus of the dead,

Of her consuming cheek the autumnal leaf-like red.

CIII.

Perchance she died in age-surviving all,
Charms, kindred, children-with the silver gray
On her long tresses, which might yet recal,
It may be, still a something of the day
When they were braided, and her proud array

And lovely form were envied, praised, and eyed

By Rome

But whither would Conjecture stray?

Thus much alone we know-Metella died,

The wealthiest Roman's wife; Behold his love or pride!

CIV.

I know not why-but standing thus by thee
It seems as if I had thine inmate known,

Thou tomb! and other days come back on me
With recollected music, though the tone

Is changed and solemn, like the cloudy groan
Of dying thunder on the distant wind;
Yet could I seat me by this ivied stone

Till I had bodied forth the heated mind

Forms from the floating wreck which Ruin leaves behind;

CV.

And from the planks, far shatter'd o'er the rocks,

Built me a little bark of hope, once more

To battle with the ocean and the shocks

Of the loud breakers, and the ceaseless roar
Which rushes on the solitary shore

Where all lies founder'd that was ever dear:

But could I gather from the wave-worn store
Enough for my rude boat, where should I steer?

There woos no home, nor hope, nor life, save what is here.

CVI.

Then let the winds howl on! their harmony
Shall henceforth be my music, and the night
The sound shall temper with the owlets' cry,
As I now hear them, in the fading light
Dim o'er the bird of darkness' native site,
Answering each other on the Palatine,

With their large eyes, all glistening gray and bright,
And sailing pinions.-Upon such a shrine

What are our petty griefs ?-let me not number mine.

CVII.

Cypress and ivy, weed and wallflower grown
Matted and mass'd together, hillocks heap'd

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 walls-

Behold the Imperial Mount! 'tis thus the mighty falls. (51)