The Ruins Of Rome/VIII

VII

The Ruins Of Rome ~ VIII written by Joachim Du Bellay translated by A. S. Kline

IX

Les Antiquités de Rome - VIII.

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VIII
 
With arms and vassals Rome the world subdued,
So that one might judge this single city
Had found her grandeur held in check solely
By earth and ocean’s depth and latitude.

So richly was this fertile race imbued
With virtuous nephews, its posterity
Surpassed the past, in brave authority,
Measured deep earth and heaven’s altitude:

So that, holding all power in its hand,
No end to empire would Rome understand:
And though Republics Time might consume,

Time could not so diminish Roman pride,
That some head raised from the ancient tomb,
To speak her name, might be deemed to have lied.