Lays and Legends or Ballads of the New World By G. W. Thornbury |
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 | I. |
| II. |
ON AN OLD COIN OF VESPASIAN'S,
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 | Lays and Legends or Ballads of the New World |  |
150
ON AN OLD COIN OF VESPASIAN'S,
DUG UP NEAR THE RUINS OF A PALACE.
Was it some warrior Roman,
With cunning art and fine,
Who stamped this coin's surface
With letter and with sign?
Yes! he that grasped the pilum,
Dug metal from the mine.
With cunning art and fine,
Who stamped this coin's surface
With letter and with sign?
Yes! he that grasped the pilum,
Dug metal from the mine.
Yes! he that in some camp's deep trench,
Dropped thee from mailed hand,
'Gainst Greek or swarthy Egyptian,
Had drawn the battle brand.
Yes! he that grasped the pilum,
Hath clutched thee in his hand.
Dropped thee from mailed hand,
'Gainst Greek or swarthy Egyptian,
Had drawn the battle brand.
Yes! he that grasped the pilum,
Hath clutched thee in his hand.
He might have plundered Herod's hall,
Or the maddened Jew have slain,
When from the burning temple
Showered down the fiery rain.
Yes! he that grasped the pilum,
Trod many a bloody plain.
Or the maddened Jew have slain,
When from the burning temple
Showered down the fiery rain.
Yes! he that grasped the pilum,
Trod many a bloody plain.
His gory hand, too daring,
Might have torn the veil away
That hid Jehovah's brightness
From the sullying light of day.
Ah! he that grasped the pilum,
Was no sluggard in the fray.
Might have torn the veil away
That hid Jehovah's brightness
From the sullying light of day.
Ah! he that grasped the pilum,
Was no sluggard in the fray.
| Lays and Legends or Ballads of the New World | |