Page:Tales and Historic Scenes.pdf/104

100

Have made that ancient pile their home Fortress of freedom and of Rome.

There he, who strove in evil days, Again to kindle glory's rays, Whose spirit sought a path of light, For those dim ages far too bright, Crescentius, long maintain'd the strife, Which closed but with its martyr's life, And left th' imperial tomb a name, A heritage of holier fame. There closed De Brescia's mission high, From thence the patriot came to die;5 And thou, whose Roman soul the last, Spoke with the voice of ages past,6 Whose thoughts so long from earth had fled, To mingle with the glorious dead, That midst the world's degenerate race They vainly sought a dwelling-place, Within that house of death didst brood O'er visions to thy ruin woo'd. Yet, worthy of a brighter lot, Rienzi! be thy faults forgot!