Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-12-01
TIE EVENING STAR AT ROME.
BY MISS =. W. HALL

"As was walking this evening on the Pin
elan Hill, admTing those skies 50 peculiar for
their deep and heavenly blue, the evening star
shOne out with great briiiaucy. The reflection
arose 80 this star looked down upon Rome two
thousand wears ago, when she sat enthr0ned
upon her seven hills. ths mistress of the wOr O..
But what revolution has IL since witnessed! Ii
has seen this proud metropolis crumbling and
falling under the weight of her own magnih-
eence. The rank grass waves over the site of
the Ifaperial palace OF the CacsarSl The ruined
temple, the broken column, the fallen arch, all
proclaim that the destroyer has been here tn 1t
the Eterna. CITY has "fallen from her high es-
tate Vet = she fascinating, even in her desc
latiOn- Destitute AZ / am Of the learning OF her
Augustau age, and OF those associations which
endeaT Rome TO the classical scholar, I yet feel
that would sooner choose this city for my
residence than any 1 have seen since leaving
America-'-4 passage from ne authors journal
What hast thou seen from thy orb afar,
A. rev, living ages have hurried by,
Since thou hrst was lighted m that pure skys
'I have looked on the birth Of the infant Rome;
- Have seen the rud- hamlet she call a her home;
" have watch Il her growing in power and pride,
- Till The world she graspd IN her empire wide.
{" have seen her palaces rising fair,
. Her bold Coils nm towering there.
- Have caZed on her pagan temples I'D,
&" With their Wes'h, AMI glory, and Ponips untold
"a have l.oki with smile on those fountains
" A. they playd in the .Iear AMI mellow moonlight:
. nile the naighh oriug columns, towering high,
" Stood boldly reiIeyd 'gtiu-t the pure blIe SKY.
=. have seen the r rnas Iegions brave,
:. Nav sen "a" Imperial banner w,ayej
. Toachieve NV conquests-new realms to waste.
a. have seen them g. forth to a land afar.
- And return With the zlittering sppiis IT war;
- Have seen, in the pomp Of their triumph, dis
4" The fallen monarch and the captive maid.
" have seen. where the pagan temples stood,
a. Churches arise 10 the living God.
n fsrrzF an FFtlfr fF-= F#t-=H 20. nth
" Rather than swerve from his simple faiih.
=. And. mortal I've seen this proud city gay,
!" And sittinz m glory, grow old a11 grayi
" And gard where q 9TH, in havoc, hath trod.
have seen her rsassive columns broke,
" Have behelt her stately palaces smoke
q " hlle a horde 81 harbarian> fierce AMI wild,
= At the ruin they wrought, eNultinyly snild
" And saw, when Attna's savage Huns
" TerrInd Il ONE efgmina.e sons,
" 4 Christian bishop 60 forth with prayer,
I" That he would the Eternal City spare.
q. have seen the Imperial power decay.
=" and the pride If kingdoms become a prey
= To sIITitual despot; have seeG him Sit,
- W th submissive monarohs beneath his feet.
a. have seen him distribute thrones ami crowns,
While nations trembled beneath his frowns;
" And lead him away to his distant nome.
"And the monuments rich, Of Grecian art
" And Of Roman genius, We sc,u depart:
" There wa weeping AMI sorrow and shame when
" the conlueroI' arms became a prey.
+" And see, a. l l,-ok from my distant sphere,
" The end Of her long and dark career;
4" Bcauteou- and bright, 1 shall still shine on,
=" " hen the name and remembrance Of X me are
gone.
Bat yet, though faded AMI weak AMI lone,
Ihon Pos-es7est a charm which i all thine own;
And 1ifHe, though hts power may ppt Mt be,
Can ne er tear from ny heart the image Of thee.
Thou hast still thy skies 900 1rkty blue.
And the soft airs ~ heaven are stealing through
Those cTumhlinC arches where ivy ctiugs,
And around thy walls the peasant sings
His evening song ofthc f1unertime,
/. W hen, IN distant nation AM foreign cline,
Thy Meme Wa honor a. ami fear q thy power:
What Once thou vert, X ma, thou art more.