Page:Tales and Historic Scenes.pdf/129

Rh

Lead me to death! and let me share The slumbers of the mighty there!"

The day departs—that fearful day Fades in calm loveliness away: From purple heavens its lingering beam Seems melting into Tiber's stream, And softly tints each Roman hill With glowing light, as clear and still, As if, unstain'd by crime or woe, Its hours had pass'd in silent flow. The day sets calmly—it hath been Mark'd with a strange and awful scene: One guilty bosom throbs no more, And Otho's pangs and life are o'er. And thou, ere yet another sun His burning race hath brightly run, Released from anguish by thy foes, Daughter of Rome! shalt find repose.— Yes! on thy country's lovely sky Fix yet once more thy parting eye! A few short hours—and all shall be The silent and the past for thee.