I THOU wert not, Cassius, and thou couldst not be, Last of the Romans, though thy memory claim From Brutus his own glory, and on thee Rests the full splendor of his sacred fame; Nor he who dared make the foul tyrant quail Amid his cowering senate with thy name, Though thou and he were great; it will avail To thine own fame that Otho's should not fail. II 'T will wrong thee not -- thou wouldst, if thou couldst feel, Abjure such envious fame -- great Otho died Like thee -- he sanctified his country's steel, At once the tyrant and tyrannicide, In his own blood. A deed it was to bring Tears from all men -- though full of gentle pride, Such pride as from impetuous love may spring, That will not be refused its offering. III Dark is the realm of grief: but human things Those may not know who cannot weep for them. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HOLY WILLIE'S PRAYER by ROBERT BURNS THE DESERTER['S MEDITATION] by JOHN PHILPOT CURRAN THE WILD HONEYSUCKLE by PHILIP FRENEAU A SECOND REVIEW OF THE GRAND ARMY [MAY 24, 1865] by FRANCIS BRET HARTE THE BANNER OF THE JEW by EMMA LAZARUS ONE SHORT HOUR by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH AGAMEMNON: THE SACRIFICE OF IPHIGENIA. CHORUS by AESCHYLUS ODES: BOOK 1: ODE 11. ON LOVE - TO A FRIEND by MARK AKENSIDE |