The daily union., 1854-12-17


Oh dying man. divine bend the knee
Relic Of ancient Rome we bow to thee
And make a temple Of beating hearts,
To worship the perfection Of thy art
o'er the dim tomb thou hold'st Thy silent sway,
For 10 this marble niumphs DER decay
While empires fall around you, ye retain
God of the mind, your everlasting reign
Oh az we gaze, what visions, crowdirs fast,
Bis. In the moonlight of the Fhsdowy past!
Lo oC old we stand, the deep blue sky
OF Rome again hangs o'el us. Each aisle,
Through the din vista Of that antique pile,
IL hrongcd with waiting mynads.
In, in, they swarmed tumuuous a. the rosI
offosming breakers a rocky shore,
But now, all, all 10 husbed, voices rude
To break the still expectant calm intrude.
II Ia bfeathIess pausei whe thousands wait
The trumpet signal for the work OF fate.
Hart to that clxrons pealiDs sound,
From pi, to dome, prociaims The summons round
Swift es the phantom OF fairy's wand,
With sword and shield the gai,stoas siaad.
Me,hinks see pomp OF VIZ,
A ppop of impotence--a public show.
Where, mid Rome's puny race of courts can be,
Son OF the woods champion meet for thee?
shrinks that rude heart before a purple vest,
While courers scof, and tinseil'd mobiles lest
Far be the thought. as in his naked Nigh,
Rurhes this circus cnptiye 10 the hght
The foo. aaysaos6 the naughty lips apart,
The breath Just issuing from the swelling heart,
And all the Thracan, in his sternert mood,
Speaks from that forn',~ unawed and unsubiuedi
The strife is o'er; ev'n broken bow,
Ncrveless and wan, the Terrible lies low
lie leans upon bis hand; the lion chest
Bows 70 the dust and from the unnamed ben
Falls, drop by drop, Iife's tide.
The color from his cheek s fed
Its paleness speaks no passion, and no dread,
But 6erce endurance, and steadast will
The patient that suffers, and is still
There is iustre in his dropping eye;
His forehead hath show of majesty;
And his strong arm, pob,y bear
The polished buctlor OF the ashen spear,
Drops powe,less ana cold
May we no, guess from his hxed, downward gaze,
Ills soul is dr,smirg OF r-iadng days?
he dreams Of other worlds and happier isles,
OfIonrer days and springs eternal smiles;
of sunny wales, and Iands beyond the sra
Where Romans oome--bai al are free
In this las, hour the dying Tbracian
His dstnnt cot, his flowers, and waving trees,
More sweeuy pictured 10 his longing view
In the dim past, than were the vision true.
The verdant valley and the dark brown hill
The small far garden and its unkIing ri
The winding path, the dwelling In TIE Rross,
The look OF welcome and t,s k.ss oflove;
And fair form be.oss his glazing sight
GIides like a yoiceicrs phantom OF the night
And rosy infant lips, which opdiy press
To snatch the willing, yet delayed csress.
Vain dream no more thy rayless orbs may res,
On sun bright vines that gem the mountains breast;
The peaceful hocks that spot the grassy vale,
Or fields bending to the gentle gse
That angel form they more viii
Save in the visions ofeierniy.
Hut there scenes OF sunny, cain delight
Recede at length, and vanish from his sight
see him pillow his calm head 10 rest,
Aud, like glory -circisd martyr claim
The wings of death speed his soul from shame.
Oh guilty city long to thee given
To laugh at Justice mock at Heaven.
Go, seek the Coliseum now with pensvs tread
4 Il temple o the drnd,
Advance, and wander on through crumbtng halls,
Through PROSTATE gates and ivied pcdestsis.
Poor heaps Of aches rrandeur's crumblng tomb
An thou the place Eternal Rome
We breathe prayer that long land may be
What thine ooce-tbe dwelling Of the free;
In and arms like thine aprivsfed shine,
But not like thine, from all these charms decline,
'Asmsoros cIrr, December 10, lss4.
" principal part of the gsd!aor captive Thracisns
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