The Ruins Of Rome/XIV

XIII

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

XV

Les Antiquités de Rome - XIV.

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XIV
 
As we pass the summer stream without danger
That floods in winter, king of all the plain,
Rendering farmers’ hopes and shepherds’ vain,
In his proud flight, sinking fields in water:

As we see coward creatures at the slaughter
Outrage the dead lion after his brave reign,
Staining their jaws, revealing their disdain,
Daring their enemy bereft of power:

And as the least valiant Greeks at Troy
With brave Hector’s corpse were wont to toy,
So those whose heads once used to bow,

When to Roman triumph they were drawn,
On dusty tombs exact their vengeance now,
The conquered daring the conqueror’s scorn.