158 CHILDE HAROLD'S CANTO IV. CXLII. But here, where Murder breathed her bloody steam; And here, where buzzing nations choked the ways, And roar'd or murmur'd like a mountain stream Dashing or winding as its torrent strays; Here, where the Roman million's blame or praise Was death or life, the playthings of a crowd, (61) My voice sounds much—and fall the stars' faint rays On the arena void-seats crush'd-walls bow'dAnd galleries, where my steps seem echoes strangely loud. CXLIII. A ruin-yet what ruin! from its mass And marvel where 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 streams too much on all years, man, have reft away. CXLIV. But when the rising moon begins to climb Heroes have trod this spot-'tis on their dust ye tread. CXLV. "While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand; (63) "When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall; "And when Rome falls-the World." From our own land Thus spake the pilgrims o'er this mighty wall Rome and her Ruin past Redemption's skill, The World, the same wide den—of thieves, or what ye will. CXLVI. Simple, erect, severe, austere, sublime— Arch, empire, each thing round thee, and man plods Of art and piety-Pantheon!-pride of Rome! CXLVII. Relic of nobler days, and noblest arts! To art a model; and to him who treads Their eyes on honour'd forms, whose busts around them close. (65) CXLVIII. There is a dungeon, in whose dim drear light (66) It is not so; I see them full and plain— The blood is nectar:-but what doth she there, With her unmantled neck, and bosom white and bare? CXLIX. Full swells the deep pure fountain of young life, No pain and small suspense, a joy perceives What may the fruit be yet?-I know not-Cain was VOL. II. Eve's. M CL. But here youth offers to old age the food, Great Nature's Nile, whose deep stream rises higher Drink, drink and live, old man! Heaven's realm holds no such tide. CLI. The starry fable of the milky way A constellation of a sweeter ray, Where sparkle distant worlds :-Oh, holiest nurse! With life, as our freed souls rejoin the universe. |