by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793 - 1835)
Rome, Rome! thou art no more
Language: English
Rome, Rome! thou art no more As thou hast been! On thy seven hills of yore Thou satst a queen. Thou hadst thy triumphs then Purpling the street, Leaders and sceptred men Bow’d at thy feet. They that thy mantle wore, As gods were seen... Rome, Rome! thou art no more As thou hast been! Rome! thine imperial brow Never shall rise: What hast thou left thee now? Thou hast thy skies! Blue, deeply blue, they are, Gloriously bright! Veiling thy wastes afar With colour’d light. Thou hast the sunset’s glow, Rome, for thy dower, Flushing tall cypress-bough, Temple and tower! And all sweet sounds are thine, Lovely to hear, While night, o’er tomb and shrine, Rests darkly clear. Many a solemn hymn, By starlight sung, Sweeps thro’ the arches dim, Thy wrecks among. Many a flute’s low swell, On thy soft air Lingers, and loves to dwell With summer there. Thou hast the South’s rich gift Of sudden song, A charmed fountain, swift, Joyous, and strong. Thou hast fair forms that move With queenly tread; Thou hast proud fanes above Thy mighty dead. Yet wears thy Tiber’s shore A mournful mien: Rome, Rome! thou art no more As thou hast been!
About the headline (FAQ)
Authorship:
- by Felicia Dorothea Hemans (1793 - 1835), "Roman Girl's Song" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Harriet Browne (1790 - 1858), "The Roman Girl's Song" [ voice and piano ] [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2023-06-12
Line count: 48
Word count: 202