Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Greece and Turkey in Europe: Vol. XIX. 1876–79. | | | | Greece: Corinth | | Corinth | | Nicholas Michell (1807–1880) |
| | (From Ruins of Many Lands)
VENICE of classic times! where dance and song | |
| And vine-crowned Bacchus chased the hours along, | |
| And young and old but lived for present joy, | |
| No thought of gloom their raptures to alloy. * * * * * | |
| Now, as we walk where flowers of every bloom | 5 |
| Once made the land a garden of perfume, | |
| And countless lyres, each sweet entrancing night, | |
| Swelled from love’s temple gleaming on the height, | |
| We find but choking thorns, and grass that waves | |
| On shattered walls and long-forgotten graves. | 10 |
| Where now, high peak, that tower’st in barren pride, | |
| The pillared fanes which once adorned thy side? | |
| Where the bronze statues glittering in the sun, | |
| Telling of deeds by Isthmian conquerors done? | |
| Ay, Paul denounced, and Mummius wrapped in flame, | 15 |
| The cup was full, the bolt of ruin came, | |
| Mirth spread its wings, the sister Graces fled, | |
| And Corinth bowed in death her beauteous head. | | | | |
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