The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery Collected and Revised by the Author |
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CÆSAR ON THE BANKS OF THE
RUBICON. |
 | The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery |  |
CÆSAR ON THE BANKS OF THE RUBICON.
(1829.)
Amid the roar of revelry
Within Alesian's home,
He moved with glad but musing eye,
The vanquisher of Rome;
His spirit mingled with the gay,
And smiled the gloom of war away.
Within Alesian's home,
He moved with glad but musing eye,
The vanquisher of Rome;
His spirit mingled with the gay,
And smiled the gloom of war away.
He tarried there till darkling Night
Threw round her dewy veil,
And shadows pall'd each Alpine-height
That beetled o'er the dale;
Then Cæsar rose, his bosom fraught
With incommunicable thought!
Threw round her dewy veil,
And shadows pall'd each Alpine-height
That beetled o'er the dale;
Then Cæsar rose, his bosom fraught
With incommunicable thought!
And swiftly sped the Hero on
Along his shadowy road;
And reach'd where roll'd the Rubicon,
That from the mountain flow'd;
And there,—prophetic thought's control
Becalm'd the dauntless Cæsar's soul!
Along his shadowy road;
And reach'd where roll'd the Rubicon,
That from the mountain flow'd;
And there,—prophetic thought's control
Becalm'd the dauntless Cæsar's soul!
Before him heaved the river-bound
Between great Rome and Gaul;
If cross'd—what trumpet-clangs would sound!
How many a foeman fall!
The vision'd future wild with woes
Before him, like a Spectre, rose!
Between great Rome and Gaul;
If cross'd—what trumpet-clangs would sound!
How many a foeman fall!
The vision'd future wild with woes
Before him, like a Spectre, rose!
603
He mused on battle, war, and blood,
On plunder'd cities' storm;
The impatient daggers of the good
Against a tyrant's form;
On all the mountain-perils thrown
'Tween Rome and triumph,—for his own.
On plunder'd cities' storm;
The impatient daggers of the good
Against a tyrant's form;
On all the mountain-perils thrown
'Tween Rome and triumph,—for his own.
Of what the unborn Times would say
At Rubicon's grand name,
Of Him who track'd with blood his way,
And with it built his fame:
Would he not seem a demon then,
Who ravish'd all the rights of men?
At Rubicon's grand name,
Of Him who track'd with blood his way,
And with it built his fame:
Would he not seem a demon then,
Who ravish'd all the rights of men?
And thus reflecting Cæsar stood
And battled with his mind;
Then, gazed upon the fatal flood,
And dash'd his doubts behind!
Like a bent bow, his pride return'd,
And all the Roman in him burn'd.
And battled with his mind;
Then, gazed upon the fatal flood,
And dash'd his doubts behind!
Like a bent bow, his pride return'd,
And all the Roman in him burn'd.
“The die is cast! the die is cast!”
With reckless shout he cried;
Then swift the Rubicon was pass'd
And reach'd the Roman side;
Ere day had dawn'd he drew the sword,
And vassal Cities hail'd him lord!
With reckless shout he cried;
Then swift the Rubicon was pass'd
And reach'd the Roman side;
Ere day had dawn'd he drew the sword,
And vassal Cities hail'd him lord!
| The Poetical Works of Robert Montgomery | |