Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ON PINCIAN HILL, by LOUIS JONES MAGEE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ON PINCIAN HILL, by                    
First Line: The roman world is gay and bright
Last Line: Each life its martyrdom.
Subject(s): Roman Empire; Rome, Italy


THE Roman world is gay and bright
On Garden Hill to-day, --
A world of music, beauty, light,
Roses, and fountain spray.

A dreamy look of luxury fills
The eyes of young and fair;
Mascagni's "Intermezzo" thrills
Upon the perfumed air.

Within the charmed range of sound
The crowd move slowly by;
In golden livery grouped around,
Proud equipages vie.

But in th' Eternal City who
Can rest contented long
With things that savor of the new?
The charm of age is strong.

An ancient spell from out the past
Our spirits seems to hold
In sympathy with what could last,
In love for what is old.

Away from all this modern show
We turn with eager eyes
To where, the terraced hill below,
Our Rome, the classic, lies;

To ground that heathen emperors
And holy men have trod;
To temples reared for Jupiter,
And churches built to God.

We try to find the Pantheon
Amidst the gilded domes;
The inward vision dwells upon
The distant Catacombs.

We see the Colosseum stand
Still strong against the flood
Of stormy centuries, alter grand,
Hallowed by martyrs' blood.

O sacred ruin, planned to see
Such blood for pleasure spent,
What heroes dared to make of thee
A Christian monument!

Have we a faith as strong and sure
'Gainst sword and beast and flame?
Could we their sufferings endure,
And glory in His name?

Have we their strength to stand our ground
(I'll question better still)
Amidst the life that throngs around
Here on the Pincian Hill?

For Faith, of old by tortures tried,
Needs now another test:
The truth for which our fathers died
We prove by living best.

Be it an open fight with vice,
Or self to overcome,
Each day may have its sacrifice,
Each life its martyrdom.





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