Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VIRGIL'S TOMB, by ROBERT CAMERON ROGERS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VIRGIL'S TOMB, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: On an olive crested steep
Last Line: The tinkling of the bells.
Subject(s): Italy; Virgil (70-19 B.c.); Italians; Vergil


"CECINI PASCUA, RURA, DUCES"

ON an olive-crested steep
Hanging o'er the dusty road,
Lieth in his last abode,
Wrapped in everlasting sleep,

He who in the days of yore
Sang of pastures, sang of farms,
Sang of heroes and their arms,
Sang of passion, sang of war.

When the lark at dawning tells,
Herald like, the coming day,
And along the dusty way
Comes the sound of tinkling bells,

Rising to the tomb aloft,
While some modern Corydon
Drives his bleating cattle on
From the stable to the croft:

Then the soul of Virgil seems
To awaken from its dreams,
To sing again the melodies
Of which he often tells, --
The music of the birds,
The lowing of the herds,
The tinkling of the bells.





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