The Queen and Other Poems By Richard Garnett |
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| I. |
| II. |
| VII. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVIII. |
| XXI. | XXI
CÆSAR BORGIA'S SWORD |
| XXII. |
| XXIV. |
| XXVI. |
| XXIX. |
| XXX. |
| XXXI. |
| XXXIII. |
| XXXIV. |
| XXXV. |
| XXXVI. |
| XXXVII. |
| XXXVIII. |
| XL. |
| XLI. |
| XLIV. |
| XLVIII. |
 | The Queen and Other Poems |  |
33
XXI
CÆSAR BORGIA'S SWORD
AUT CÆSAR AUT NIHIL
Well has the graver traced thee, sword of mine!Here Cæsar by the Rubicon's slow deeps
Ponders, here resolute to empire leaps,
And far and near the smitten waters shine.
The vanquished train's interminable line
Wends with his wheels up Capitolian steeps;
And round the interlacing legend creeps,
Cæsar or nothing, saith Duke Valentine.
And did I bare thee to the sun, my Blade,
Fired at the flash all Italy should thrill,
And many a city quake and province bow.
Yet is a drop within this phial stayed,
That should the might of marching armies still,
And stainless sheathe ten thousand such as thou.
| The Queen and Other Poems | |