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...I SHALL LIVE TO BE OLD by SARA TEASDALE THESMOPHORIAZUSAE: EURIPIDES by ARISTOPHANES BLIND MAN'S BUFF by WILLIAM BLAKE EPITAPH ON NICOL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, EDINBURGH by ROBERT BURNS SONG OF THE CORN by JAMES EDWIN CAMPBELL UPON THE THEME OF LOVE: THE BODY, A FANCY by MARGARET LUCAS CAVENDISH |