Laurel · Edmund Spenser · Amoretti and Epithalamion, and Other Poems

Ruines of Rome

Edmund Spenser (c. 1552–1599) · 1595

iambic pentameter · English sonnet · 448 lines · from Amoretti and Epithalamion, and Other Poems

Ye heavenly spirites, whose ashie cinders lieUnder deep ruines, with huge walls opprest,But not your praise, the which shall never dieThrough your faire verses, ne in ashes rest;If so be shrilling voyce of wight aliveMay reach from hence to depth of darkest hell,Then let those deep abysses open rive,That ye may understand my shreiking yell!Thrice having seene under the heavens vealeYour toombs devoted compasse over all,Thrice unto you with lowd voyce I appeale,And for your antique furie here doo call,The whiles that I with sacred horror singYour glorie, fairest of all earthly thing!

Great Babylon her haughtie walls will praise,And sharped steeples high shot up in ayre;Greece will the olde Ephesian buildings blaze,And Nylus nurslings their Pyramides faire;The same yet vaunting Greece will tell the storieOf Ioves great image in Olympus placed;Mausolus worke will be the Carians glorie,And Crete will boast the Labyrinth, now raced;The antique Rhodian will likewise set forthThe great Colosse, erect to Memorie;And what els in the world is of like worth,Some greater learned wit will magnifie.But I will sing above all monimentsSeven Romane Hils, the worlds seven wonderments.

Thou stranger, which for Rome in Rome hero seekest,And nought of Rome in Rome perceiv’st at all,These same olde walls, olde arches, which thou seest,Olde palaces, is that which Rome men call.Beholde what wreake, what mine, and what wast,And how that she which with her mightie powreTam’d all the world hath tam’d herselfe at last;The pray of Time, which all things doth devowre!Rome now of Rome is th’onely funerall,And onely Rome of Rome hath victorie;Ne ought save Tyber hastning to his fallRemaines of all: O worlds inconstancie!That which is firme doth flit and fall away,And that is flitting doth abide and stay.

She whose high top above the starres did sore,One foote on Thetis, th’other on the Morning,One hand on Scythia, th’other on the More,Both heaven and earth in roundnesse compassing;Iove fearing, least if she should greater growe,The old giants should once againe uprise,Her whelm’d with hills, these seven hils, which be noweTombes of her greatnes which did threate the skies:Upon her head he heapt Mount Saturnal,Upon her bellie th’antique Palatine,Upon her stomacke laid Mount Quirinal,On her left hand the noysome Esquiline,And Caelian on the right; but both her feeteMount Viminal and Aventine doo meete.

Who lists to see what ever nature, arte,And heaven could doo, O Rome, thee let him see,In case thy greatnes he can gesse in harteBy that which but the picture is of thee!Rome is no more: but if the shade of RomeMay of the bodie yeeld a seeming sight,It’s like a corse drawne forth out of the tombeBy magicke skill out of eternall night:The corpes of Rome in ashes is entombed,And her great spirite, reioyned to the spiriteOf this great masse, is in the same enwombed;But her brave writings, which, her famous meriteIn spight of Time out of the dust doth reare,Doo make her idole through the world appeare.

Such as the Berecynthian goddesse bright,In her swifte charret with high turrets crownde,Proud that so manie gods she brought to light,Such was this citie in her good daies fownd:This citie, more than that great Phrygian motherRenowm’d for fruite of famous progenie,Whose greatnes by the greatnes of none other,But by her selfe, her equall match could see:Rome onely might to Rome compared bee,And onely Rome could make great Rome to tremble:So did the gods by heavenly doome decree,That other earthlie power should not resembleHer that did match the whole earths puissaunce,And did her courage to the heavens advaunce.

Ye sacred ruines, and ye tragick sights,Which onely doo the name of Rome retaine,Olde moniments, which of so famous sprightsThe honour yet in ashes doo maintaine,Triumphant arcks, spyres neighbours to the skie,That you to see doth th’heaven it selfe appall,Alas! by little ye to nothing flie,The peoples fable, and the spoyle of all!And though your frames do for a time make warreGainst Time, yet Time in time shall ruinateYour workes and names, and your last reliques marre.My sad desires, rest therefore moderate!For if that Time make ende of things so sure,It als will end the paine which I endure.

Through armes and vassals Rome the world subdu’d,That one would weene that one sole cities strengthBoth land and sea in roundnes had survew’d,To be the measure of her bredth and length:This peoples vertue yet so fruitfull wasOf vertuous nephewes, that posteritie,Striving in power their grandfathers to passe,The lowest earth ioin’d to the heaven hie;To th’end that, having all parts in their power,Nought from the Romane Empire might be quight**;And that though Time doth commonwealths devowre,Yet no time should so low embase their hight,That her head, earth’d in her foundations deep,Should not her name and endles honour keep.

Ye cruell starres, and eke ye gods unkinde,Heaven envious, and bitter stepdame Nature!Be it by fortune, or by course of kinde,That ye doo weld th’affaires of earthlie creature;Why have your hands long sithence traveiledTo frame this world, that doth endure so long?Or why were not these Romane palacesMade of some matter no lesse firme and strong?I say not, as the common voyce doth say,That all things which beneath the moone have beingAre temporall and subiect to decay:But I say rather, though not all agreeingWith some that weene the contrarie in thought,That all this whole shall one day come to nought.

As that brave sonne of Aeson, which by charmesAtcheiv’d the golden fleece in Colchid land,Out of the earth engendred men of armesOf dragons teeth, sowne in the sacred sand,So this brave towne, that in her youthlie daiesAn hydra was of warriours glorious,Did fill with her renowmed nourslings praiseThe firie sunnes both one and other hous:But they at last, there being then not livingAn Hercules so ranke seed to represse,Emongst themselves with cruell furie striving,Mow’d downe themselves with slaughter mercilesse;Renewing in themselves that rage unkinde,Which whilom did those earthborn brethren blinde.

Mars, shaming to have given so great headTo his off-spring, that mortall puissaunce,Puft up with pride of Romane hardiehead,Seem’d above heavens powre it selfe to advaunce,Cooling againe his former kindled heateWith which he had those Romane spirits fild.Did blowe new fire, and with enflamed breathInto the Gothicke colde hot rage instil’d.Then gan that nation, th’earths new giant brood,To dart abroad the thunderbolts of warre,And, beating downe these walls with furious moodInto her mothers bosome, all did marre;To th’end that none, all were it Iove his sire,Should boast himselfe of the Romane empire.

Like as whilome the children of the earthHeapt hils on hils to scale the starrie skie,And fight against the gods of heavenly berth,Whiles Iove at them his thunderbolts let flie;All suddenly with lightning overthrowne,The furious squadrons downe to ground did fall,That th’earth under her childrens weight did grone,And th’heavens in glorie triumpht over all;So did that haughtie front, which heaped wasOn these seven Romane hils, it selfe upreareOver the world, and lift her loftie faceAgainst the heaven, that gan her force to feare.But now these scorned fields bemone her fall,And gods secure feare not her force at all.

Nor the swift furie of the flames aspiring,Nor the deep wounds of victours raging blade,Nor ruthlesse spoyle of souldiers blood-desiring,The which so oft thee, Rome, their conquest made,Ne stroke on stroke of fortune variable,Ne rust of age hating continuance,Nor wrath of gods, nor spight of men unstable,Nor thou oppos’d against thine owne puissance,Nor th’horrible uprore of windes high blowing,Nor swelling streames of that god snakie-pacedWhich hath so often with his overflowingThee drenched, have thy pride so much abaced,But that this nothing, which they have thee left,Makes the world wonder what they from thee reft.

As men in summer fearles passe the foordWhich is in winter lord of all the plaine,And with his tumbling streames doth beare aboordThe ploughmans hope and shepheards labour vaine,And as the coward beasts use to despiseThe noble lion after his lives end,Whetting their teeth, and with vaine foolhardiseDaring the foe that cannot him defend,And as at Troy most dastards of the GreekesDid brave about the corpes of Hector colde,So those which whilome wont with pallid cheekesThe Romane triumphs glorie to behold,Now on these ashie tombes shew boldnesse vaine,And, conquer’d, dare the conquerour disdaine.

Ye pallid spirits, and ye ashie ghoasts,Which, ioying in the brightnes of your day,Brought foorth those signes of your presumptuous boastsWhich now their dusty reliques do bewray,Tell me, ye spirits! (sith the darksome riverOf Styx, not passable to soules returning,Enclosing you in thrice three wards for ever,Doo not restraine your images still mourning,)Tell me then, (for perhaps some one of youYet here above him secretly doth hide,)Doo ye not feele your torments to accrewe,When ye sometimes behold the ruin’d prideOf these old Romane works, built with your hands,To become nought els but heaped sands?

Like as ye see the wrathfull sea from farreIn a great mountaine heap’t with hideous noyse,Eftsoones of thousand billowes shouldred narre,Against a rocke to breake with dreadfull poyse;Like as ye see fell Boreas with sharpe blastTossing huge tempests through the troubled skie,Eftsoones having his wide wings spent in wast,To stop his wearie cariere** suddenly;And as ye see huge flames spred diverslie,Gathered in one up to the heavens to spyre,Eftsoones consum’d to fall downe feebily,So whilom did this monarchie aspyreAs waves, as winde, as fire, spred over all,Till it by fatall doome adowne did fall.

So long as Ioves great bird did make his flight,Bearing the fire with which heaven doth us fray,Heaven had not feare of that presumptuous might,With which the giaunts did the gods assay:But all so soone as scortching sunne had brentHis wings which wont the earth to overspredd,The earth out of her massie wombe forth sentThat antique horror which made heaven adredd.Then was the Germane raven in disguiseThat Romane eagle seene to cleave asunder,And towards heaven freshly to ariseOut of these mountaines, now consum’d to pouder.In which the foule that serves to beare the lightningIs now no more seen flying nor alighting.

These heapes of stones, these old wals which ye see,Were first enclosures but of salvage soyle;And these brave pallaces, which maystred beeOf time, were shepheards cottages somewhile.Then tooke the shepheards kingly ornamentsAnd the stout hynde arm’d his right hand with steele:Eftsoones their rule of yearely presidentsGrew great, and sixe months greater a great deele;Which, made perpetuall, rose to so great might,That thence th’imperiall eagle rooting tooke,Till th’heaven it selfe, opposing gainst her might,Her power to Peters successor betooke,Who, shepheardlike, (as Fates the same foreseeing,)Doth shew that all things turne to their first being.

All that is perfect, which th’heaven beautefies;All that’s imperfect, borne belowe the moone;All that doth feede our spirits and our eies;And all that doth consume our pleasures soone;All the mishap the which our daies outweares;All the good hap of th’oldest times afore,Rome, in the time of her great ancesters,Like a Pandora, locked long in store.But destinie this huge chaos turmoyling,In which all good and evill was enclosed,Their heavenly vertues from these woes assoyling,Caried to heaven, from sinfull bondage losed:But their great sinnes, the causers of their paine,Under these antique ruines yet remaine.

No otherwise than raynie cloud, first fedWith earthly vapours gathered in the ayre,Eftsoones in compas arch’t, to steepe his hed,Doth plonge himselfe in Tethys bosome faire,And, mounting up againe from whence he came,With his great bellie spreds the dimmed world,Till at the last, dissolving his moist frame,In raine, or snowe, or haile, he forth is horld,This citie, which was first but shepheards shade,Uprising by degrees, grewe to such heightThat queene of land and sea her selfe she made.At last, not able to beare so great weight,Her power, disperst, through all the world did vade;To shew that all in th’end to nought shall fade.

The same which Pyrrhus and the puissaunceOf Afrike could not tame, that same brave citieWhich, with stout courage arm’d against mischaunce,Sustein’d the shocke of common enmitie,Long as her ship, tost with so manie freakes,Had all the world in armes against her bent,Was never seene that anie fortunes wreakesCould breake her course begun with brave intent.But, when the obiect of her vertue failed,Her power it selfe against it selfe did arme;As he that having long in tempest sailedFaine would arive, but cannot for the storme,If too great winde against the port him drive,Doth in the port it selfe his vessell rive.

When that brave honour of the Latine name,Which mear’d her rule with Africa and Byze**,With Thames inhabitants of noble fame,And they which see the dawning day arize,Her nourslings did with mutinous uproreHarten against her selfe, her conquer’d spoile,Which she had wonne from all the world afore,Of all the world was spoyl’d within a while:So, when the compast course of the universeIn sixe and thirtie thousand yeares is ronne,The bands of th’elements shall backe reverseTo their first discord, and be quite undonne;The seedes of which all things at first were bredShall in great Chaos wombe againe be hid.

O warie wisedome of the man that wouldThat Carthage towres from spoile should be forborne,To th’end that his victorious people shouldWith cancring laisure not be overworne!He well foresaw how that the Romane courage,Impatient of pleasures faint desires,Through idlenes would turne to civill rage,And be her selfe the matter of her fires.For in a people given all to ease,Ambition is engendred easily;As, in a vicious bodie, grose diseaseSoone growes through humours superfluitie.That came to passe, when, swolne with plenties pride,Nor prince, nor peere, nor kin, they would abide.

If the blinde Furie which warres breedeth oftWonts not t’enrage the hearts of equall beasts,Whether they fare on foote, or flie aloft,Or armed be with clawes, or scalie creasts,What fell Erynnis, with hot burning tongs,Did grype your hearts with noysome rage imbew’d,That, each to other working cruell wrongs,Your blades in your owne bowels you embrew’d?Was this, ye Romanes, your hard destinie?Or some old sinne, whose unappeased guiltPowr’d vengeance forth on you eternallie?Or brothers blood, the which at first was spiltUpon your walls, that God might not endureUpon the same to set foundation sure?

O that I had the Thracian poets harpe,For to awake out of th’infernall shadeThose antique Caesars, sleeping long in darke,The which this auncient citie whilome made!Or that I had Amphions instrument,To quicken with his vitall notes accordThe stonie ioynts of these old walls now rent,By which th’Ausonian light might be restor’d!Or that at least I could with pencill fineFashion the pourtraicts of these palacis,By paterne of great Virgils spirit divine!I would assay with that which in me isTo builde, with levell of my loftie style,That which no hands can evermore compyle.

Who list the Romane greatnes forth to figure,Him needeth not to seeke for usage rightOf line, or lead, or rule, or squaire, to measureHer length, her breadth, her deepnes, or her hight;But him behooves to vew in compasse roundAll that the ocean graspes in his long armes;Be it where the yerely starre doth scortch the ground,Or where colde Boreas blowes his bitter stormes.Rome was th’whole world, and al the world was Rome;And if things nam’d their names doo equalize,When land and sea ye name, then name ye Rome,And, naming Rome, ye land and sea comprize:For th’auncient plot of Rome, displayed plaine,The map of all the wide world doth containe.

Thou that at Rome astonisht dost beholdThe antique pride which menaced the skie,These haughtie heapes, these palaces of olde,These wals, these arcks, these baths, these temples his,Iudge, by these ample ruines vew, the restThe which iniurious time hath quite outworne,Since, of all workmen helde in reckning best,Yet these olde fragments are for paternes borne:Then also marke how Rome, from day to day,Repayring her decayed fashion,Renewes herselfe with buildings rich and gay;That one would iudge that the Romaine DaemonDoth yet himselfe with fatall hand enforceAgaine on foot to reare her pouldred** corse.

He that hath seene a great oke drie and dead,Yet clad with reliques of some trophees olde,Lifting to heaven her aged hoarie head,Whose foote in ground hath left but feeble holde,But halfe disbowel’d lies above the ground,Shewing her wreathed rootes, and naked armes,And on her trunke all rotten and unsoundOnely supports herselfe for meate of wormes,And, though she owe her fall to the first winde,Yet of the devout people is ador’d,And manie yong plants spring out of her rinde;Who such an oke hath seene, let him recordThat such this cities honour was of yore,And mongst all cities florished much more.

All that which Aegypt whilome did devise,All that which Greece their temples to embrave,After th’Ionicke, Atticke, Doricke guise,Or Corinth skil’d in curious workes to grave,All that Lysippus practike arte could forme,Apelles wit, or Phidias his skill,Was wont this auncient citie to adorne,And the heaven it selfe with her wide wonders fill.All that which Athens ever brought forth wise,All that which Afrike ever brought forth strange,All that which Asie ever had of prise,Was here to see. O mervelous great change!Rome, living, was the worlds sole ornament;And, dead, is now the worlds sole moniment.

Like as the seeded field greene grasse first showes,Then from greene grasse into a stalke doth spring,And from a stalke into an eare forth-growes,Which eare the frutefull graine doth shortly bring,And as in season due the husband mowesThe waving lockes of those faire yeallow heares,Which, bound in sheaves, and layd in comely rowes,Upon the naked fields in stalkes he reares,So grew the Romane empire by degree,Till that barbarian hands it quite did spill,And left of it but these olde markes to see,Of which all passers by doo somewhat pill**,As they which gleane, the reliques use to gatherWhich th’husbandman behind him chanst to scater.

That same is now nought but a champian wide,Where all this worlds pride once was situate.No blame to thee, whosoever dost abideBy Nyle, or Gange, or Tygre, or Euphrate;Ne Afrike thereof guiltie is, nor Spaine,Nor the bolde people by the Thamis brincks,Nor the brave warlicke brood of Alemaine,Nor the borne souldier which Rhine running drinks.Thou onely cause, O Civill Furie, art!Which, sowing in th’Aemathian fields thy spight,Didst arme thy hand against thy proper hart;To th’end that when thou wast in greatest hightTo greatnes growne, through long prosperitie,Thou then adowne might’st fall more horriblie.

Hope ye, my Verses, that posteritieOf age ensuing shall you ever read?Hope ye that ever immortalitieSo meane harpes worke may chalenge for her meed?If under heaven anie endurance were,These moniments, which not in paper writ,But in porphyre and marble doo appeare,Might well have hop’d to have obtained it.Nath’les, my Lute, whom Phoebus deigned to give,Cease not to sound these olde antiquities:For if that Time doo let thy glorie live,Well maist thou boast, how ever base thou bee,That thou art first which of thy nation songTh’olde honour of the people gowned long.

Words in this poem 100

shall v. i.: To owe; to be under obligation for. [OE. shal, schal, imp. sholde, scholde, AS. scal, sceal, I am obliged, imp. scolde, sceolde, inf. sculan; akin to OS. skulan, pres. skal, imp. skolda, D. zullen,]
wight n.: A whit; a bit; a jot. [OE. wight, wiht, a wight, a whit, AS. wiht, wuht, a creature, a thing; skin to D. wicht a child, OS. & OHG. wiht a creature, thing, G. wicht a creature, Icel. v]
whiles conj.: During the time that; while. Chaucer. Fuller.
ephesian a.: Of or pertaining to Ephesus, an ancient city of Ionia, in Asia Minor. [L. Ephesius: cf. F. éphésien.]
rhodian a.: Of or pertaining to Rhodes, an island of the Mediterranean. [L. Rhodius: cf. F. rhodien.]
wast: The second person singular of the verb be, in the indicative mood, imperfect tense; -- now used only in solemn or poetical style.
ought p. p.: Was or were under obligation to pay; owed. [Orig. the preterit of the verb to owe. OE. oughte, aughte, ahte, AS. ahte. sq. root110. See Owe.]
flit a.: Nimble; quick; swift. See Fleet.
flitting n.: A flying with lightness and celerity; a fluttering.
compassing a.: Curved; bent; as, compassing timbers.
uprise v. i.: To rise; to get up; to appear from below the horizon.
quirinal a.: Of, pertaining to, or designating, the hill Collis Quirinalis, now Monte Quirinale (one of the seven hills of Rome), or a modern royal place situated upon it. Also used substantively.
viminal a.: Of or pertaining to twigs; consisting of twigs; producing twigs. [L. viminalis pertaining to osiers, fr. vimen a pliant twig, osier.]
aventine n.: A post of security or defense.
corse n.: A living body or its bulk. [OF. cors, F. corps. See Corpse.]
eternall a.: Without beginning or end of existence; always existing. [F. éternel, L. aeternalis, fr. aeternus. See Etern.]
masse n.: A stroke made with the cue held vertically.
spight n.: A woodpecker. See Speight.
manie n.: Mania; insanity. [F. See Mania.]
honour n.: Esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation; respect; consideration; reverence; veneration; manifestation of respect or reverence. [OE. honor, honour, onour, onur, OF. honor, onor, honur, onur, honour, onour, F. honneur, fr. L. honor, honos.]
appall v. t.: To make pale; to blanch. [OF. appalir to grow pale, make pale; a (L. ad) + pâlir to grow pale, to make pale, pâle pale. See Pale, a., and cf. Pall.]
ruinate v. i.: To fall; to tumble.
marre n.: A small lake. See Mere.
fruitfull a.: Full of fruit; producing fruit abundantly; bearing results; prolific; fertile; liberal; bountiful; as, a fruitful tree, or season, or soil; a fruitful wife.
vertuous a.: Virtuous; powerful.
passe a.: Past; gone by; hence, past one's prime; worn; faded; as, a passée belle. Ld. Lytton. [F.]
embase v. t.: To bring down or lower, as in position, value, etc.; to debase; to degrade; to deteriorate. [Pref. em- + base, a. or v. t.: cf. OF. embaissier.]
hight v. t.: To be called or named. [OE. heiten, highten, haten, hoten; also hight, hatte, hette, is called, was called, AS. hatan to call, name, be called, to command, promise; also hatte is calle]
cruell a.: Disposed to give pain to others; willing or pleased to hurt, torment, or afflict; destitute of sympathetic kindness and pity; savage; inhuman; hard-hearted; merciless. [F. cruel, fr. L. crudelis, fr. crudus. See Crude.]
envious a.: Malignant; mischievous; spiteful. [OF. envios, F. envieux, fr. L. invidiosus, fr. invidia envy. See Envy, and cf. Invidious.]
sithence adv.: Since. See Sith, and Sithen. Piers Plowman.
sonne n.: A male child; the male issue, or offspring, of a parent, father or mother. [OE. sone, sune, AS. sunu; akin to D. zoon, OS., OFries., & OHG. sunu, G. sohn, Icel. sonr, Sw. son, Dan. sön, Goth. sunus, Lith. sunus, Russ. suin', Skr. sunu (]
glorious a.: Exhibiting attributes, qualities, or acts that are worthy of or receive glory; noble; praiseworthy; excellent; splendid; illustrious; inspiring admiration; as, glorious deeds. [OF. glorios, glorious, F. glorieux, fr. L. gloriosus. See Glory, n.]
emongst: , (prep. Among.
whilom adv.: Formerly; once; of old; erewhile; at times. [AS. hwilum, properly, at times, dative pl. of hwil; akin to G. weiland formerly, OHG. hwilm, See While, n.]
earthborn a.: Born of the earth; terrigenous; springing originally from the earth; human.
mortall a.: Subject to death; destined to die; as, man is mortal. [F. mortel, L. mortalis, from mors, mortis, death, fr. moriri 8die; akin to E. murder. See Murder, and cf. Filemot, Mere a lake, Mortgage.]
cooling a.: Adapted to cool and refresh; allaying heat.
sire n.: A lord, master, or other person in authority. See Sir. [F. sire, originally, an older person. See Sir.]
berth v. t.: To give an anchorage to, or a place to lie at; to place in a berth; as, she was berthed stem to stern with the Adelaide.
aspiring a.: That aspires; as, an Aspiring mind.
puissance n.: Power; strength; might; force; potency. [F., fr.puissant. See Puissant, and cf. Potency, Potance, Potence.]
reft n.: A chink; a rift. See Rift. Rom. of R.
despise v. t.: To look down upon with disfavor or contempt; to contemn; to scorn; to disdain; to have a low opinion or contemptuous dislike of. [OF. despis-, in some forms of despire to despise, fr. L. despicere, despectum, to look down upon, despise; de- + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy, and cf. Des]
shew n.: Show. [Obs. except in shewbread.]
conquerour n.: One who conquers. The Conqueror (Eng. Hist.). William the Norman (1027-1067) who invaded England, defeated Harold in the battle of Hastings, and was crowned king, in 1066. [OF. conquereor, fr. conquerre,]
bewray v. t.: To expose; to reveal; to disclose; to betray. [OE. bewraien, biwreyen; pref. be- + AS. wr to accuse, betray; akin to OS. wr, OHG. ruog, G. rügen, Icel. rægja, Goth. wr to accuse.]
sith prep.: Since; afterwards; seeing that. [See Since.]
darksome a.: Dark; gloomy; obscure; shaded; cheerless.
styx n.: The principal river of the lower world, which had to be crossed in passing to the regions of the dead.
wrathfull a.: Full of wrath; very angry; greatly incensed; ireful; passionate; as, a wrathful man.
farre n.: A young pig, or a litter of pigs. [See Farrow.]
dreadfull a.: Full of dread or terror; fearful.
boreas n.: The north wind; -- usually a personification. [L. boreas, Gr. .]
fatall a.: Proceeding from, or appointed by, fate or destiny; necessary; inevitable. [L. fatalis, fr. fatum: cf. F. fatal. See Fate.]
brent n.: A brant. See Brant. [Cf. Brant.]
germane a.: Literally, near akin; hence, closely allied; appropriate or fitting; relevant. [See German akin, nearly related.]
salvage n.: The act of saving a vessel, goods, or life, goods, or life, from perils of the sea. [F. salvage, OF. salver to save, F. sauver, fr. L. salvare. See Save.]
soyle v. t.: To solve, to clear up; as, to soyl all other texts. [Aphetic form of assoil.]
somewhile adv.: Once; for a time.
perpetuall a.: Neverceasing; continuing forever or for an unlimited time; unfailing; everlasting; continuous. [OE. perpetuel, F. perpétuel, fr. L. perpetualis, fr. perpetuus continuing throughout, continuous, fr. perpes, -etis, lasting throughout.]
imperiall a.: Of or pertaining to an empire, or to an emperor; as, an imperial government; imperial authority or edict. [OE. emperial, OF. emperial, F. impérial, fr. L. imperialis, fr. imperium command, sovereignty, empire. See Empire.]
mishap v. i.: To happen unluckily; -- used impersonally.
afore prep.: Before (in all its senses).
chaos n.: An empty, immeasurable space; a yawning chasm. [L. chaos chaos (in senses 1 & 2), Gr. Chasm.]
sinfull a.: Tainted with, or full of, sin; wicked; iniquitous; criminal; unholy; as, sinful men; sinful thoughts. Piers Plowman. [AAS. synfull.]
plonge v. t.: To cleanse, as open drains which are entered by the tide, by stirring up the sediment when the tide ebbs. [See Plunge.]
tethys n.: A genus of a large naked mollusks having a very large, broad, fringed cephalic disk, and branched dorsal gills. Some of the species become a foot long and are brilliantly colored.
uprising n.: Act of rising; also, a steep place; an ascent.
vade v. i.: To fade; hence, to vanish. [For fade.]
vessell v. t.: To put into a vessel.
mutinous a.: Disposed to mutiny; in a state of mutiny; characterized by mutiny; seditious; insubordinate. [See Mutiny.]
harten v. t.: To hearten; to encourage; to incite.
wonne v. i.: To dwell or abide. [See 1st Wone.]
ronne: obs. imp. pl., and Ron"nen (,
civill a.: Pertaining to a city or state, or to a citizen in his relations to his fellow citizens or to the state; within the city or state. [L. civilis, fr. civis citizen: cf. F. civil. See City.]
grype v. t.: To gripe. See Gripe.
embrew v. t.: To imbrue; to stain with blood.
sinne adv.: Old form of Since. [Obs. or Prov.Eng. & Scot.]
thracian a.: Of or pertaining to Thrace, or its people.
vitall a.: Belonging or relating to life, either animal or vegetable; as, vital energies; vital functions; vital actions. [F., fr. L. vitalis, fr. vita life; akin to vivere to live. See Vivid.]
pencill n.: A small, fine brush of hair or bristles used by painters for laying on colors. [OF. pincel, F. pinceau, L. penicillum, penicillus, equiv. to peniculus, dim. of penis a tail. Cf. Penicil.]
levell v. i.: To be level; to be on a level with, or on an equality with, something; hence, to accord; to agree; to suit.
evermore adv.: During eternity; always; forever; for an indefinite period; at all times; -- often used substantively with for.
starre n.: One of the innumerable luminous bodies seen in the heavens; any heavenly body other than the sun, moon, comets, and nebulæ. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. staírno, Arm]
equalize v. t.: To make equal; to cause to correspond, or be like, in amount or degree as compared; as, to equalize accounts, burdens, or taxes. [Cf. F. égaliser.]
clad v.: To clothe. Holland.
yore adv.: In time long past; in old time; long since. [OE. , yare, , AS. geára;akin to geár a year, E. year. Year.]
embrave v. t.: To inspire with bravery. Beaumont.
curious a.: Difficult to please or satisfy; solicitous to be correct; careful; scrupulous; nice; exact. [OF. curios, curius, F. curieux, L. curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura care. See Cure.]
moniment n.: Something to preserve memory; a reminder; a monument; hence, a mark; an image; a superscription; a record. [L. monimentum, monumentum. See Monument.]
shortly adv.: In a short or brief time or manner; soon; quickly. [AS. sceortlice.]
spill n.: A bit of wood split off; a splinter. [sq. root170. Cf. Spell a splinter.]
husbandman n.: The master of a family.
situate a.: Having a site, situation, or location; being in a relative position; permanently fixed; placed; located; as, a town situated, or situate, on a hill or on the seashore. [LL. situatus, from situare to place, fr. L. situs situation, site. See Site.]
gange v. t.: To protect (the part of a line next a fishhook, or the hook itself) by winding it with wire.
didst: , the 2d pers. sing. imp. of Do.
meed v. t.: To reward; to repay. Waytt.
phoebus n.: Apollo; the sun god.
gowned p. a.: Dressed in a gown; clad.

Definitions and etymologies from Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913.

About this text

Ruines of Rome is in the public domain. This text is taken from The Poetical Works of Edmund Spenser, Volume 5, Project Gutenberg ebook #10602; the transcription's header, footer and licence were removed and nothing else was changed. You may copy, print and reuse it freely.

Cite as: Edmund Spenser, Ruines of Rome, in Amoretti and Epithalamion, and Other Poems (1595), text of Project Gutenberg ebook #10602, Laurel, https://laurelpoetry.com/poem/spenser-amoretti/ruines-of-rome-by-bellay.html, id L23762.

Form and metre

Ruines of Rome is 448 lines in 32 stanzas of 14 lines each. Every stanza rhymes ABABCDCDEFEFGG, the English sonnet. The metre is iambic pentameter, measured from the stress the words themselves fix (confidence 84%).

See other English sonnets, other poems in iambic pentameter.

Measured by Laurel's pipeline, not copied from a handbook: how stress and metre are counted, how rhyme is lettered, how a drifted rhyme is found. Where the dictionary cannot confirm a rhyme the letter is withheld, not guessed.

Rhyme words, stanza by stanza

The word that ends each line, lettered by the rhyme it makes; a dash is a line whose rhyme the dictionary could not confirm.

1 ABABCDCDEFEFGG lie^A · opprest^B · die^A · rest^B · alive^C · hell^D · rive^C · yell^D · veale^E · all^F · appeale^E · call^F · sing^G · thing^G
2 ABABCDCDEFEFGG praise^A · ayre^B · blaze^A · faire^B · storie^C · placed^D · glorie^C · raced^D · forth^E · memorie^F · worth^E · magnifie^F · moniments^G · wonderments^G
3 ABABCDCDEFEFGG seekest^A · all^B · seest^A · call^B · wast^C · powre^D · last^C · devowre^D · funerall^E · victorie^F · fall^E · inconstancie^F · away^G · stay^G
4 ABABCDCDEFEFGG sore^A · morning^B · more^A · compassing^B · growe^C · uprise^D · nowe^C · skies^D · saturnal^E · palatine^F · quirinal^E · esquiline^F · feete^G · meete^G
5 ABABCDCDEFEFGG arte^A · see^B · harte^A · thee^B · rome^C · sight^D · tombe^C · night^D · entombed^E · spirite^F · enwombed^E · merite^F · reare^G · appeare^G
6 ABABCDCDEFEFGG bright^A · crownde^B · light^A · fownd^B · mother^C · progenie^D · other^C · see^D · bee^E · tremble^F · decree^E · resemble^F · puissaunce^G · advaunce^G
7 ABABCDCDEFEFGG sights^A · retaine^B · sprights^A · maintaine^B · skie^C · appall^D · flie^C · all^D · warre^E · ruinate^F · marre^E · moderate^F · sure^G · endure^G
8 ABABCDCDEFEFGG subdu'd^A · strength^B · survew'd^A · length^B · was^C · posteritie^D · passe^C · hie^D · power^E · quight^F · devowre^E · hight^F · deep^G · keep^G
9 ABABCDCDEFEFGG unkinde^A · nature^B · kinde^A · creature^B · traveiled^C · long^D · palaces^C · strong^D · say^E · being^F · decay^E · agreeing^F · thought^G · nought^G
10 ABABCDCDEFEFGG charmes^A · land^B · armes^A · sand^B · daies^C · glorious^D · praise^C · hous^D · living^E · represse^F · striving^E · mercilesse^F · unkinde^G · blinde^G
11 ABABCDCDEFEFGG head^A · puissaunce^B · hardiehead^A · advaunce^B · heate^C · fild^D · breath^C · instil'd^D · brood^E · warre^F · mood^E · marre^F · sire^G · empire^G
12 ABABCDCDEFEFGG earth^A · skie^B · berth^A · flie^B · overthrowne^C · fall^D · grone^C · all^D · was^E · upreare^F · face^E · feare^F · fall^G · all^G
13 ABABCDCDEFEFGG aspiring^A · blade^B · desiring^A · made^B · variable^C · continuance^D · unstable^C · puissance^D · blowing^E · paced^F · overflowing^E · abaced^F · left^G · reft^G
14 ABABCDCDEFEFGG foord^A · plaine^B · aboord^A · vaine^B · despise^C · end^D · foolhardise^C · defend^D · greekes^E · colde^F · cheekes^E · behold^F · vaine^G · disdaine^G
15 ABABCDCDEFEFGG ghoasts^A · day^B · boasts^A · bewray^B · river^C · returning^D · ever^C · mourning^D · you^E · hide^F · accrewe^E · pride^F · hands^G · sands^G
16 ABABCDCDEFEFGG farre^A · noyse^B · narre^A · poyse^B · blast^C · skie^D · wast^C · suddenly^D · diverslie^E · spyre^F · feebily^E · aspyre^F · all^G · fall^G
17 ABABCDCDEFEFGG flight^A · fray^B · might^A · assay^B · brent^C · overspredd^D · sent^C · adredd^D · disguise^E · asunder^F · arise^E · pouder^F · lightning^G · alighting^G
18 ABABCDCDEFEFGG see^A · soyle^B · bee^A · somewhile^B · ornaments^C · steele^D · presidents^C · deele^D · might^E · tooke^F · might^E · betooke^F · foreseeing^G · being^G
19 ABABCDCDEFEFGG beautefies^A · moone^B · eies^A · soone^B · outweares^C · afore^D · ancesters^C · store^D · turmoyling^E · enclosed^F · assoyling^E · losed^F · paine^G · remaine^G
20 ABABCDCDEFEFGG fed^A · ayre^B · hed^A · faire^B · came^C · world^D · frame^C · horld^D · shade^E · height^F · made^E · weight^F · vade^G · fade^G
21 ABABCDCDEFEFGG puissaunce^A · citie^B · mischaunce^A · enmitie^B · freakes^C · bent^D · wreakes^C · intent^D · failed^E · arme^F · sailed^E · storme^F · drive^G · rive^G
22 ABABCDCDEFEFGG name^A · byze^B · fame^A · arize^B · uprore^C · spoile^D · afore^C · while^D · universe^E · ronne^F · reverse^E · undonne^F · bred^G · hid^G
23 ABABCDCDEFEFGG would^A · forborne^B · should^A · overworne^B · courage^C · desires^D · rage^C · fires^D · ease^E · easily^F · disease^E · superfluitie^F · pride^G · abide^G
24 ABABCDCDEFEFGG oft^A · beasts^B · aloft^A · creasts^B · tongs^C · imbew'd^D · wrongs^C · embrew'd^D · destinie^E · guilt^F · eternallie^E · spilt^F · endure^G · sure^G
25 ABABCDCDEFEFGG harpe^A · shade^B · darke^A · made^B · instrument^C · accord^D · rent^C · restor'd^D · fine^E · palacis^F · divine^E · is^F · style^G · compyle^G
26 ABABCDCDEFEFGG figure^A · right^B · measure^A · hight^B · round^C · armes^D · ground^C · stormes^D · rome^E · equalize^F · rome^E · comprize^F · plaine^G · containe^G
27 ABABCDCDEFEFGG behold^A · skie^B · olde^A · his^B · rest^C · outworne^D · best^C · borne^D · day^E · fashion^F · gay^E · daemon^F · enforce^G · corse^G
28 ABABCDCDEFEFGG dead^A · olde^B · head^A · holde^B · ground^C · armes^D · unsound^C · wormes^D · winde^E · ador'd^F · rinde^E · record^F · yore^G · more^G
29 ABABCDCDEFEFGG devise^A · embrave^B · guise^A · grave^B · forme^C · skill^D · adorne^C · fill^D · wise^E · strange^F · prise^E · change^F · ornament^G · moniment^G
30 ABABCDCDEFEFGG showes^A · spring^B · growes^A · bring^B · mowes^C · heares^D · rowes^C · reares^D · degree^E · spill^F · see^E · pill^F · gather^G · scater^G
31 ABABCDCDEFEFGG wide^A · situate^B · abide^A · euphrate^B · spaine^C · brincks^D · alemaine^C · drinks^D · art^E · spight^F · hart^E · hight^F · prosperitie^G · horriblie^G
32 ABABCDCDEFEFGG posteritie^A · read^B · immortalitie^A · meed^B · were^C · writ^D · appeare^C · it^D · give^E · antiquities^F · live^E · bee^F · song^G · long^G

Scansion, line by line

Each line with its syllable count and the stresses the words themselves fix: / stressed, ˘ unstressed, · a syllable the word leaves free and the metre decides. Read against iambic pentameter. How this is done.

Line	Syl.	Stress
Ye heavenly spirites, whose ashie cinders lie	11	·/˘/˘···/˘·
Under deep ruines, with huge walls opprest,	11	···/˘···/˘˘
But not your praise, the which shall never die	10	·······/˘·
Through your faire verses, ne in ashes rest;	10	···/˘··/˘·
If so be shrilling voyce of wight alive	10	···/˘···˘/
May reach from hence to depth of darkest hell,	10	·······/˘·
Then let those deep abysses open rive,	10	····˘/˘/˘·
That ye may understand my shreiking yell!	10	····˘/····
Thrice having seene under the heavens veale	10	·/˘····/˘·
Your toombs devoted compasse over all,	10	··˘/˘/˘···
Thrice unto you with lowd voyce I appeale,	11	···········
And for your antique furie here doo call,	10	···˘/·····
The whiles that I with sacred horror sing	10	·····/˘/˘·
Your glorie, fairest of all earthly thing!	10	···/˘··/˘·
Great Babylon her haughtie walls will praise,	10	·/˘·······
And sharped steeples high shot up in ayre;	10	··˘/˘·····
Greece will the olde Ephesian buildings blaze,	10	····˘/˘/˘·
And Nylus nurslings their Pyramides faire;	10	······/˘˘·
The same yet vaunting Greece will tell the storie	11	·········/˘
Of Ioves great image in Olympus placed;	10	···/˘·˘/˘·
Mausolus worke will be the Carians glorie,	11	···········
And Crete will boast the Labyrinth, now raced;	10	·····/˘···
The antique Rhodian will likewise set forth	11	·˘//˘˘·/···
The great Colosse, erect to Memorie;	10	····˘/····
And what els in the world is of like worth,	10	··········
Some greater learned wit will magnifie.	10	·/˘·˘·····
But I will sing above all moniments	10	··········
Seven Romane Hils, the worlds seven wonderments.	11	/·····/˘/˘˘
Thou stranger, which for Rome in Rome hero seekest,	12	·/˘·····/˘/˘
And nought of Rome in Rome perceiv’st at all,	10	··········
These same olde walls, olde arches, which thou seest,	10	·····/˘···
Olde palaces, is that which Rome men call.	10	·/˘˘······
Beholde what wreake, what mine, and what wast,	9	·········
And how that she which with her mightie powre	11	·········/˘
Tam’d all the world hath tam’d herselfe at last;	10	··········
The pray of Time, which all things doth devowre!	10	··········
Rome now of Rome is th’onely funerall,	11	········/˘˘
And onely Rome of Rome hath victorie;	10	·/˘·······
Ne ought save Tyber hastning to his fall	10	··········
Remaines of all: O worlds inconstancie!	10	˘/········
That which is firme doth flit and fall away,	10	········˘/
And that is flitting doth abide and stay.	10	···/˘·˘/··
She whose high top above the starres did sore,	10	··········
One foote on Thetis, th’other on the Morning,	11	···/˘····/˘
One hand on Scythia, th’other on the More,	10	··········
Both heaven and earth in roundnesse compassing;	11	·/˘·····/˘˘
Iove fearing, least if she should greater growe,	10	·/˘····/˘·
The old giants should once againe uprise,	10	··/˘····/˘
Her whelm’d with hills, these seven hils, which be nowe	10	·····/····
Tombes of her greatnes which did threate the skies:	9	·········
Upon her head he heapt Mount Saturnal,	10	··········
Upon her bellie th’antique Palatine,	10	·······/˘·
Upon her stomacke laid Mount Quirinal,	10	·······/˘˘
On her left hand the noysome Esquiline,	10	··········
And Caelian on the right; but both her feete	10	··········
Mount Viminal and Aventine doo meete.	10	·/˘˘·/˘˘··
Who lists to see what ever nature, arte,	10	·····/˘/˘·
And heaven could doo, O Rome, thee let him see,	10	·/········
In case thy greatnes he can gesse in harte	9	·········
By that which but the picture is of thee!	10	·····/˘···
Rome is no more: but if the shade of Rome	10	··········
May of the bodie yeeld a seeming sight,	10	···/˘··/˘·
It’s like a corse drawne forth out of the tombe	10	··········
By magicke skill out of eternall night:	10	······˘/˘·
The corpes of Rome in ashes is entombed,	10	·····/˘·˘/
And her great spirite, reioyned to the spirite	10	··········
Of this great masse, is in the same enwombed;	10	··········
But her brave writings, which, her famous merite	11	···/˘··/˘··
In spight of Time out of the dust doth reare,	10	··········
Doo make her idole through the world appeare.	11	···········
Such as the Berecynthian goddesse bright,	10	··········
In her swifte charret with high turrets crownde,	10	·······/˘·
Proud that so manie gods she brought to light,	10	··········
Such was this citie in her good daies fownd:	10	··········
This citie, more than that great Phrygian mother	11	·······/˘/˘
Renowm’d for fruite of famous progenie,	10	·····/˘···
Whose greatnes by the greatnes of none other,	9	·······/˘
But by her selfe, her equall match could see:	10	·····/˘···
Rome onely might to Rome compared bee,	10	·/˘···˘/˘·
And onely Rome could make great Rome to tremble:	11	·/˘······/˘
So did the gods by heavenly doome decree,	10	·····/˘·˘/
That other earthlie power should not resemble	11	·/˘··/··˘/˘
Her that did match the whole earths puissaunce,	9	·········
And did her courage to the heavens advaunce.	11	···/˘··/˘··
Ye sacred ruines, and ye tragick sights,	10	·/˘/˘·····
Which onely doo the name of Rome retaine,	10	·/˘·······
Olde moniments, which of so famous sprights	10	·······/˘·
The honour yet in ashes doo maintaine,	10	·/˘··/˘···
Triumphant arcks, spyres neighbours to the skie,	10	˘/˘··/˘···
That you to see doth th’heaven it selfe appall,	11	·········˘/
Alas! by little ye to nothing flie,	10	˘/·/˘··/˘·
The peoples fable, and the spoyle of all!	11	·/˘/˘······
And though your frames do for a time make warre	10	··········
Gainst Time, yet Time in time shall ruinate	10	·······/˘˘
Your workes and names, and your last reliques marre.	10	··········
My sad desires, rest therefore moderate!	11	··˘/˘···/˘˘
For if that Time make ende of things so sure,	10	··········
It als will end the paine which I endure.	10	········˘/
Through armes and vassals Rome the world subdu’d,	10	···/˘···˘/
That one would weene that one sole cities strength	10	·······/˘·
Both land and sea in roundnes had survew’d,	9	·········
To be the measure of her bredth and length:	10	···/˘·····
This peoples vertue yet so fruitfull was	10	·/˘····/˘·
Of vertuous nephewes, that posteritie,	11	·/˘˘/˘·····
Striving in power their grandfathers to passe,	11	/˘·/·/·˘··/
The lowest earth ioin’d to the heaven hie;	10	·/˘····/˘·
To th’end that, having all parts in their power,	11	···/˘····/˘
Nought from the Romane Empire might be quight**;	11	·····/˘····
And that though Time doth commonwealths devowre,	10	·····/˘···
Yet no time should so low embase their hight,	10	······˘/··
That her head, earth’d in her foundations deep,	10	······˘/˘·
Should not her name and endles honour keep.	10	·······/˘·
Ye cruell starres, and eke ye gods unkinde,	10	·/˘·······
Heaven envious, and bitter stepdame Nature!	11	//˘˘·/˘/˘/˘
Be it by fortune, or by course of kinde,	10	···/˘·····
That ye doo weld th’affaires of earthlie creature;	11	·········/˘
Why have your hands long sithence traveiled	10	·········˘
To frame this world, that doth endure so long?	10	······˘/··
Or why were not these Romane palaces	10	·······/˘˘
Made of some matter no lesse firme and strong?	10	···/˘·····
I say not, as the common voyce doth say,	10	·····/˘···
That all things which beneath the moone have being	11	·········/˘
Are temporall and subiect to decay:	10	·/˘˘····˘/
But I say rather, though not all agreeing	11	···/˘···˘/˘
With some that weene the contrarie in thought,	10	··········
That all this whole shall one day come to nought.	10	··········
As that brave sonne of Aeson, which by charmes	10	··········
Atcheiv’d the golden fleece in Colchid land,	10	···/˘·····
Out of the earth engendred men of armes	10	····˘/˘···
Of dragons teeth, sowne in the sacred sand,	10	·/˘····/˘·
So this brave towne, that in her youthlie daies	10	··········
An hydra was of warriours glorious,	11	·/˘··/˘˘/˘˘
Did fill with her renowmed nourslings praise	10	····˘/˘···
The firie sunnes both one and other hous:	10	·······/˘·
But they at last, there being then not living	11	·····/˘··/˘
An Hercules so ranke seed to represse,	10	·/˘·······
Emongst themselves with cruell furie striving,	11	··˘/·/˘··/˘
Mow’d downe themselves with slaughter mercilesse;	10	··˘/·/˘···
Renewing in themselves that rage unkinde,	10	˘/˘·˘/····
Which whilom did those earthborn brethren blinde.	10	·/˘··/˘/˘·
Mars, shaming to have given so great head	10	·/˘··/˘···
To his off-spring, that mortall puissaunce,	9	·····/˘··
Puft up with pride of Romane hardiehead,	10	··········
Seem’d above heavens powre it selfe to advaunce,	11	···/˘/·····
Cooling againe his former kindled heate	10	/˘···/˘/˘·
With which he had those Romane spirits fild.	10	·······/˘·
Did blowe new fire, and with enflamed breath	10	···/˘·····
Into the Gothicke colde hot rage instil’d.	10	··········
Then gan that nation, th’earths new giant brood,	10	···/˘··/˘·
To dart abroad the thunderbolts of warre,	10	··˘/·/˘···
And, beating downe these walls with furious mood	10	·/˘····/˘·
Into her mothers bosome, all did marre;	10	···/˘·····
To th’end that none, all were it Iove his sire,	11	·········/˘
Should boast himselfe of the Romane empire.	11	········/˘˘
Like as whilome the children of the earth	10	·····/˘···
Heapt hils on hils to scale the starrie skie,	10	··········
And fight against the gods of heavenly berth,	10	·······/˘·
Whiles Iove at them his thunderbolts let flie;	10	·····/˘···
All suddenly with lightning overthrowne,	10	·/˘˘·/˘···
The furious squadrons downe to ground did fall,	10	·/˘/˘·····
That th’earth under her childrens weight did grone,	10	·····/˘···
And th’heavens in glorie triumpht over all;	10	··········
So did that haughtie front, which heaped was	10	········˘·
On these seven Romane hils, it selfe upreare	10	··/·······
Over the world, and lift her loftie face	10	··········
Against the heaven, that gan her force to feare.	10	···/······
But now these scorned fields bemone her fall,	10	····˘·····
And gods secure feare not her force at all.	10	··˘/······
Nor the swift furie of the flames aspiring,	11	········˘/˘
Nor the deep wounds of victours raging blade,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Nor ruthlesse spoyle of souldiers blood-desiring,	12	·········˘/˘
The which so oft thee, Rome, their conquest made,	10	·······/˘·
Ne stroke on stroke of fortune variable,	11	·····/˘/˘˘˘
Ne rust of age hating continuance,	10	····/˘˘/˘˘
Nor wrath of gods, nor spight of men unstable,	11	········˘/˘
Nor thou oppos’d against thine owne puissance,	11	··˘/····/˘˘
Nor th’horrible uprore of windes high blowing,	11	·········/˘
Nor swelling streames of that god snakie-paced	10	·/˘·······
Which hath so often with his overflowing	11	···/˘··/˘·˘
Thee drenched, have thy pride so much abaced,	10	··˘·······
But that this nothing, which they have thee left,	10	···/˘·····
Makes the world wonder what they from thee reft.	10	···/˘·····
As men in summer fearles passe the foord	10	···/˘··/··
Which is in winter lord of all the plaine,	10	···/˘·····
And with his tumbling streames doth beare aboord	10	···/˘·····
The ploughmans hope and shepheards labour vaine,	10	·····/˘/··
And as the coward beasts use to despise	10	···/˘···˘/
The noble lion after his lives end,	10	·/˘/˘·····
Whetting their teeth, and with vaine foolhardise	9	/˘·····/˘
Daring the foe that cannot him defend,	10	/˘···/˘·˘/
And as at Troy most dastards of the Greekes	10	··········
Did brave about the corpes of Hector colde,	10	·······/˘·
So those which whilome wont with pallid cheekes	10	·······/˘·
The Romane triumphs glorie to behold,	10	···/˘···˘/
Now on these ashie tombes shew boldnesse vaine,	10	··········
And, conquer’d, dare the conquerour disdaine.	10	·/˘··/˘˘··
Ye pallid spirits, and ye ashie ghoasts,	10	·/˘/˘·····
Which, ioying in the brightnes of your day,	8	········
Brought foorth those signes of your presumptuous boasts	10	······˘/˘·
Which now their dusty reliques do bewray,	10	···/˘···˘/
Tell me, ye spirits! (sith the darksome river	11	···/˘··/˘/˘
Of Styx, not passable to soules returning,	11	···/˘˘··˘/˘
Enclosing you in thrice three wards for ever,	11	˘/˘······/˘
Doo not restraine your images still mourning,)	11	·····/˘˘·/˘
Tell me then, (for perhaps some one of you	10	····˘/····
Yet here above him secretly doth hide,)	10	·····/˘˘··
Doo ye not feele your torments to accrewe,	11	······/····
When ye sometimes behold the ruin’d pride	10	··˘/˘/·/˘·
Of these old Romane works, built with your hands,	10	··········
To become nought els but heaped sands?	9	·˘/····˘·
Like as ye see the wrathfull sea from farre	10	··········
In a great mountaine heap’t with hideous noyse,	10	·······/˘·
Eftsoones of thousand billowes shouldred narre,	10	···/˘/˘/˘·
Against a rocke to breake with dreadfull poyse;	10	·······/˘·
Like as ye see fell Boreas with sharpe blast	11	·····/˘˘···
Tossing huge tempests through the troubled skie,	10	/˘·/˘··/˘·
Eftsoones having his wide wings spent in wast,	10	··/˘······
To stop his wearie cariere** suddenly;	10	·······/˘˘
And as ye see huge flames spred diverslie,	10	··········
Gathered in one up to the heavens to spyre,	11	/˘·····/˘··
Eftsoones consum’d to fall downe feebily,	10	··˘/······
So whilom did this monarchie aspyre	10	·/˘·······
As waves, as winde, as fire, spred over all,	10	·····/····
Till it by fatall doome adowne did fall.	10	···/˘·····
So long as Ioves great bird did make his flight,	10	··········
Bearing the fire with which heaven doth us fray,	10	/˘·/··/···
Heaven had not feare of that presumptuous might,	10	/·····˘/˘·
With which the giaunts did the gods assay:	9	·······/˘
But all so soone as scortching sunne had brent	10	··········
His wings which wont the earth to overspredd,	10	··········
The earth out of her massie wombe forth sent	10	·····/˘···
That antique horror which made heaven adredd.	10	·˘//˘··/··
Then was the Germane raven in disguise	10	···˘//˘·˘/
That Romane eagle seene to cleave asunder,	11	···/˘···˘/˘
And towards heaven freshly to arise	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Out of these mountaines, now consum’d to pouder.	11	···/˘·˘/···
In which the foule that serves to beare the lightning	12	···/˘·····/˘
Is now no more seen flying nor alighting.	11	·····/˘·˘/˘
These heapes of stones, these old wals which ye see,	10	··········
Were first enclosures but of salvage soyle;	11	··˘/˘··/˘··
And these brave pallaces, which maystred bee	10	········˘·
Of time, were shepheards cottages somewhile.	10	···/˘/˘˘/˘
Then tooke the shepheards kingly ornaments	10	···/˘/˘/˘˘
And the stout hynde arm’d his right hand with steele:	10	··········
Eftsoones their rule of yearely presidents	11	········/˘·
Grew great, and sixe months greater a great deele;	11	·····/˘····
Which, made perpetuall, rose to so great might,	10	··˘/˘·····
That thence th’imperiall eagle rooting tooke,	10	·····/˘/˘·
Till th’heaven it selfe, opposing gainst her might,	11	·····˘/˘···
Her power to Peters successor betooke,	10	·/·/˘˘/˘··
Who, shepheardlike, (as Fates the same foreseeing,)	11	········˘/˘
Doth shew that all things turne to their first being.	11	·········/˘
All that is perfect, which th’heaven beautefies;	10	···˘/·····
All that’s imperfect, borne belowe the moone;	10	··˘/˘·····
All that doth feede our spirits and our eies;	10	····//˘·/·
And all that doth consume our pleasures soone;	10	····˘///˘·
All the mishap the which our daies outweares;	10	··/···/···
All the good hap of th’oldest times afore,	10	········˘/
Rome, in the time of her great ancesters,	10	··········
Like a Pandora, locked long in store.	10	··˘/˘·˘···
But destinie this huge chaos turmoyling,	11	······/˘···
In which all good and evill was enclosed,	10	·····/˘·˘/
Their heavenly vertues from these woes assoyling,	10	·/˘·······
Caried to heaven, from sinfull bondage losed:	10	/˘·/·/˘/˘·
But their great sinnes, the causers of their paine,	10	·····/˘···
Under these antique ruines yet remaine.	10	···˘//˘···
No otherwise than raynie cloud, first fed	10	·/˘·······
With earthly vapours gathered in the ayre,	10	·/˘/˘/˘···
Eftsoones in compas arch’t, to steepe his hed,	10	···/˘·····
Doth plonge himselfe in Tethys bosome faire,	10	·····/˘···
And, mounting up againe from whence he came,	10	·/˘·······
With his great bellie spreds the dimmed world,	10	········˘·
Till at the last, dissolving his moist frame,	10	····˘/˘···
In raine, or snowe, or haile, he forth is horld,	10	··········
This citie, which was first but shepheards shade,	10	·······/˘·
Uprising by degrees, grewe to such height	10	˘/˘·˘/····
That queene of land and sea her selfe she made.	10	··········
At last, not able to beare so great weight,	10	···/˘·····
Her power, disperst, through all the world did vade;	10	·/········
To shew that all in th’end to nought shall fade.	10	··········
The same which Pyrrhus and the puissaunce	9	·········
Of Afrike could not tame, that same brave citie	11	···········
Which, with stout courage arm’d against mischaunce,	10	···/˘·····
Sustein’d the shocke of common enmitie,	10	·····/˘···
Long as her ship, tost with so manie freakes,	10	··········
Had all the world in armes against her bent,	10	··········
Was never seene that anie fortunes wreakes	10	·/˘····/˘·
Could breake her course begun with brave intent.	10	····˘/··˘/
But, when the obiect of her vertue failed,	10	··········
Her power it selfe against it selfe did arme;	10	·/········
As he that having long in tempest sailed	10	···/˘··/˘·
Faine would arive, but cannot for the storme,	10	·····/˘···
If too great winde against the port him drive,	10	··········
Doth in the port it selfe his vessell rive.	10	·······/˘·
When that brave honour of the Latine name,	10	···/˘·····
Which mear’d her rule with Africa and Byze**,	10	·····/˘˘··
With Thames inhabitants of noble fame,	10	··˘/˘˘·/˘·
And they which see the dawning day arize,	10	·····/˘···
Her nourslings did with mutinous uprore	10	·····/˘˘··
Harten against her selfe, her conquer’d spoile,	11	/˘·····/˘··
Which she had wonne from all the world afore,	10	········˘/
Of all the world was spoyl’d within a while:	10	··········
So, when the compast course of the universe	11	········/˘·
In sixe and thirtie thousand yeares is ronne,	10	·····/˘···
The bands of th’elements shall backe reverse	10	········˘/
To their first discord, and be quite undonne;	10	···/˘·····
The seedes of which all things at first were bred	10	··········
Shall in great Chaos wombe againe be hid.	10	···/˘·····
O warie wisedome of the man that would	11	···········
That Carthage towres from spoile should be forborne,	11	·/˘/·····˘/
To th’end that his victorious people should	10	····˘/˘/˘·
With cancring laisure not be overworne!	10	·/˘·······
He well foresaw how that the Romane courage,	11	···/·····/˘
Impatient of pleasures faint desires,	10	˘/˘·/˘·˘/˘
Through idlenes would turne to civill rage,	9	······/˘·
And be her selfe the matter of her fires.	11	·····/˘··/˘
For in a people given all to ease,	10	···/˘/˘···
Ambition is engendred easily;	10	˘/˘·˘/˘/˘˘
As, in a vicious bodie, grose disease	10	···/˘/˘·˘/
Soone growes through humours superfluitie.	9	···/˘····
That came to passe, when, swolne with plenties pride,	11	····/···/˘·
Nor prince, nor peere, nor kin, they would abide.	10	········˘/
If the blinde Furie which warres breedeth oft	10	·······/˘·
Wonts not t’enrage the hearts of equall beasts,	10	·······/˘·
Whether they fare on foote, or flie aloft,	10	········˘/
Or armed be with clawes, or scalie creasts,	10	··˘·······
What fell Erynnis, with hot burning tongs,	10	·······/˘·
Did grype your hearts with noysome rage imbew’d,	10	··········
That, each to other working cruell wrongs,	10	···/˘/˘/˘·
Your blades in your owne bowels you embrew’d?	10	·····/˘···
Was this, ye Romanes, your hard destinie?	10	···/˘·····
Or some old sinne, whose unappeased guilt	10	········˘·
Powr’d vengeance forth on you eternallie?	10	·/˘·······
Or brothers blood, the which at first was spilt	10	·/˘·······
Upon your walls, that God might not endure	10	········˘/
Upon the same to set foundation sure?	10	······˘/˘·
O that I had the Thracian poets harpe,	10	·····/˘/˘·
For to awake out of th’infernall shade	10	··˘/······
Those antique Caesars, sleeping long in darke,	10	·˘//˘/˘···
The which this auncient citie whilome made!	10	··········
Or that I had Amphions instrument,	9	······/˘˘
To quicken with his vitall notes accord	10	·/˘··/˘·˘/
The stonie ioynts of these old walls now rent,	10	··········
By which th’Ausonian light might be restor’d!	10	········˘/
Or that at least I could with pencill fine	10	·······/˘·
Fashion the pourtraicts of these palacis,	10	/˘········
By paterne of great Virgils spirit divine!	10	·····/˘/˘/
I would assay with that which in me is	10	··/˘······
To builde, with levell of my loftie style,	10	···˘/·····
That which no hands can evermore compyle.	11	·····/˘····
Who list the Romane greatnes forth to figure,	10	········/˘
Him needeth not to seeke for usage right	10	·/˘····/˘·
Of line, or lead, or rule, or squaire, to measure	11	·········/˘
Her length, her breadth, her deepnes, or her hight;	9	·········
But him behooves to vew in compasse round	10	··˘/···/˘·
All that the ocean graspes in his long armes;	10	···/˘·····
Be it where the yerely starre doth scortch the ground,	12	············
Or where colde Boreas blowes his bitter stormes.	11	···/˘˘··/˘·
Rome was th’whole world, and al the world was Rome;	11	···········
And if things nam’d their names doo equalize,	10	·······/˘·
When land and sea ye name, then name ye Rome,	10	··········
And, naming Rome, ye land and sea comprize:	10	·/˘·······
For th’auncient plot of Rome, displayed plaine,	10	······˘/˘·
The map of all the wide world doth containe.	10	··········
Thou that at Rome astonisht dost behold	10	········˘/
The antique pride which menaced the skie,	10	·˘/··/˘˘··
These haughtie heapes, these palaces of olde,	10	·····/˘˘··
These wals, these arcks, these baths, these temples his,	10	·······/˘·
Iudge, by these ample ruines vew, the rest	10	···/˘/˘···
The which iniurious time hath quite outworne,	10	··········
Since, of all workmen helde in reckning best,	10	···/˘·····
Yet these olde fragments are for paternes borne:	10	···/˘·····
Then also marke how Rome, from day to day,	10	·/˘·······
Repayring her decayed fashion,	9	····˘/˘/˘
Renewes herselfe with buildings rich and gay;	10	˘/···/˘···
That one would iudge that the Romaine Daemon	10	······˘//˘
Doth yet himselfe with fatall hand enforce	10	·····/˘·˘/
Againe on foot to reare her pouldred** corse.	10	········˘·
He that hath seene a great oke drie and dead,	10	··········
Yet clad with reliques of some trophees olde,	9	·········
Lifting to heaven her aged hoarie head,	10	/˘·/˘·····
Whose foote in ground hath left but feeble holde,	10	·······/˘·
But halfe disbowel’d lies above the ground,	10	··········
Shewing her wreathed rootes, and naked armes,	10	/˘··˘··/˘·
And on her trunke all rotten and unsound	10	·····/˘·˘/
Onely supports herselfe for meate of wormes,	10	/˘˘/······
And, though she owe her fall to the first winde,	10	··········
Yet of the devout people is ador’d,	10	···˘//˘·˘/
And manie yong plants spring out of her rinde;	10	··········
Who such an oke hath seene, let him record	10	········˘/
That such this cities honour was of yore,	10	···/˘/˘···
And mongst all cities florished much more.	10	···/˘··˘··
All that which Aegypt whilome did devise,	10	········˘/
All that which Greece their temples to embrave,	10	·····/˘·˘/
After th’Ionicke, Atticke, Doricke guise,	9	·········
Or Corinth skil’d in curious workes to grave,	10	·/˘··/˘···
All that Lysippus practike arte could forme,	11	·········/˘
Apelles wit, or Phidias his skill,	8	˘/······
Was wont this auncient citie to adorne,	10	··········
And the heaven it selfe with her wide wonders fill.	11	··/·····/˘·

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More by Edmund Spenser

The Faerie Queene, Book I Amoretti and Epithalamion, and Other Poems