The Whole Works of William Browne of Tavistock ... Now first collected and edited, with a memoir of the poet, and notes, by W. Carew Hazlitt, of the Inner Temple |
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 | The Whole Works of William Browne |  |
349
IN URBEM ROMAM QUALIS EST HODIE.
[THE TRANSLATION.]
Thou, who to looke for Rome, to Rome art come,And in ye midst of Rome find'st nought of Rome;
Behold her heapes of walls, her structures rent,
Her theatres orewhelm'd, of vast extent;
Those nowe are Rome. See how those Ruynes frowne,
And speak the threats yet of so braue a town.
By Rome (as once the world) is Rome orecome,
Least ought on Earth should not be quelld by Rome:
Now conqu'ring Rome, doth conquerd Rome interre;
And she the vanquisht is, and vanquisher.
To shew vs where she stood, there rests alone
Tiber; yet that too hastens to be gone.
Learne hence what fortune can: Townes glyde away;
And Rivers, wch are still in motion, stay.
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