Page:Studies in Song - Swinburne (1880).djvu/64

Stood in our seer's wide eye
No higher than man most high,
And lowest in heart when highest in hope to hold
Fast as a scripture furled
The scroll of all the world
Sealed with his signet: nor the blind and bold
First thief of empire, round whose head
Swarmed carrion flies for bees, on flesh for violets fed.^[1]

42.

As fire that kisses, killing with a kiss,

He saw the light of death, riotous and red,
Flame round the bent brows of Semiramis
Re-risen, and mightier, from the Assyrian dead,

1. Thy lifelong works, Napoleon, who shall write?
   Time, in his children's blood who takes delight.
   From the Greek of Landor.