Like a loud-booming bell shaking its tower Of granite blocks, the antique Latin tongue Shook the whole earth; over all seas it flung Triremes of war, and bade grim legions scour The world's far verges. Its imperial dower Made Tullius a god; and Flaccus strung Its phrases into garlands; while among The high enchanters it gave Maro power. Then Latin lost its purple pomp of war, Its wine-veined laughter and patrician tears; It cast its fleshly grossness, won a soul, And trafficked far beyond the farthest star With angel-cohorts, echoing through the years In sacred Embassies from pole to pole. Her safely downward to the ledge Or whether you renew your pledge, Daring the alien quest again -- Something of her is freed by pain: Something of her that slipped and fell Past you and the others into Hell -- And something else that, ether-shod, Ran straight for comfort up to God. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE BATTLE OF NASEBY by THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULAY POMONA by WILLIAM MORRIS (1834-1896) THE HIGHWAYMAN by ALFRED NOYES TWICE by CHRISTINA GEORGINA ROSSETTI IN MEMORIAM A.H.H.: EPILOGUE by ALFRED TENNYSON THE KING'S GIFT by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING A HYMN OF THE SEA by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT THE WANDERER: 1. IN ITALY: CONDEMNED ONES by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |