Julia Alpinula :: :: University of Virginia Library

Though thus her ancient pride was quell'd,
Successive Cæsars lightly held
The golden chains she wore, and Time
Beheld her spirit still sublime
Amid her mountains, far apart
From monarchy, she heard the roar
Of storms that shook its mighty heart,
But felt, herself, the shock no more.
When steady Galba plann'd the doom
Of Nero, bloody wolf of Rome,

A native Chief with just applause
Guarded her liberties and laws:
Julius Alpinus had bewailed
The sufferings of the state, and hailed
Galba who hushed its fierce alarms,
With ready faith and open arms.
Freedom, and fire, and sovereignty,
Were sphered in his majestic eye;
Simplicity of soul, the thirst
That fired the early Romans' veins,
That stir of thousand hearts which burst
With passion at the name of chains;
And the high worth of better days,
Which wreathes the head with glory's rays,
But which in times of evil gloom,
Herald the hero to the tomb.
One only daughter charmed away
His cares from anxious day to day;
For Julia was his life of life,
His star of hope in hours of strife,
His flower of innocence and love,
That drew the sunshine down from Jove.
Gazing on her, a smile and sigh
Would strive with him, she knew not why.
She knew not why—she could not know
How bitter thoughts on sweet ones grow,

When in the daughter's face, we kiss
The mother's charms, those charms which lighted
Our young, romantic hearts with bliss.
The long caressed, the quickly blighted;
When that dear love of early years
Lies low, and cannot heed our tears!