Felicia Hemans in The New Monthly Magazine Volume 17 1826/Roman Girl's Song

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For other versions of this work, see Roman Girl's Song.

The New Monthly Magazine, Volume 17, Page 357


ROMAN GIRL'S SONG.

Roma, Roma, Roma!
Non è più come era prima.


Rome, Rome! thou art no more
    As thou hast been!
On thy Seven Hills of yore
    Thou sat'st a Queen.

Thou hadst thy triumphs then
    Purpling the street:
Leaders and sceptred men
    Bow'd at thy feet.

They that thy mantle wore,
    As gods were seen:
Rome, Rome! thou art no more
    As thou hast been!

Rome! thine imperial brow
    Never shall rise:
What hast thou left thee now?—
    Thou hast thy skies!

Blue, deeply blue, they are,
    Gloriously bright!
Veiling thy wastes afar
    With colour'd light.

Thou hast the sunset's glow,
    Rome! for thy dower,
Flushing dark cypress-bough,
    Temple and tower:

And all sweet sounds are thine,
    Lovely to hear;
While Night, o'er tomb and shrine,
    Rests darkly clear.

Many a solemn hymn,
    By starlight sung,
Sweeps through the arches dim
    Thy wrecks among.

Many a flute's low swell
    On thy soft air,
Lingers and loves to dwell
    With Summer there.

Thou hast the South's rich gift
    Of sudden song;
A charmed fountain swift,
    Joyous and strong:

Thou hast fair forms that move
    With queenly tread;
Thou hast rich fanes above
    Thy mighty dead.

Yet wears thy Tiber's shore
    A mournful mien:
Rome, Rome! thou art no more
    As thou hast been!
F. H.