 | Rudyard Kipling's Verse |  |
THE SURVIVAL
HORACE, Bk. V. Ode 22.
Securely, after days
Unnumbered, I behold
Kings mourn that promised praise
Their cheating bards foretold.
Unnumbered, I behold
Kings mourn that promised praise
Their cheating bards foretold.
Of earth-constricting wars,
Of Princes passed in chains,
Of deeds out-shining stars,
No word or voice remains.
Of Princes passed in chains,
Of deeds out-shining stars,
No word or voice remains.
Yet furthest times receive,
And to fresh praise restore,
Mere breath of flutes at eve,
Mere seaweed on the shore.
And to fresh praise restore,
Mere breath of flutes at eve,
Mere seaweed on the shore.
A smoke of sacrifice;
A chosen myrtle-wreath;
An harlot's altered eyes;
A rage 'gainst love or death;
A chosen myrtle-wreath;
An harlot's altered eyes;
A rage 'gainst love or death;
Glazed snow beneath the moon;
The surge of storm-bowed trees—
The Cæsars perished soon,
And Rome Herself: But these
The surge of storm-bowed trees—
The Cæsars perished soon,
And Rome Herself: But these
Endure while Empires fall
And Gods for Gods make room . . . .
Which greater God than all
Imposed the amazing doom?
And Gods for Gods make room . . . .
Which greater God than all
Imposed the amazing doom?
| Rudyard Kipling's Verse | |