Page:Tales and Historic Scenes.pdf/222

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Around the spot where Agrippina died, Denouncing vengeance on the matricide,4

Past are those ages—yet another crime, Another woe, must stain th' Elysian clime. There stands a scaffold on the sunny shore— It must be crimson'd ere the day is o'er! There is a throne in regal pomp array'd,— A scene of death from thence must be survey'd. Mark'd ye the rushing throngs?—each mien is pale, Each hurried glance reveals a fearful tale; But the deep workings of th' indignant breast, Wrath, hatred, pity, must be all suppress'd; The burning tear awhile must check its course, Th' avenging thought concentrate all its force, For tyranny is near—and will not brook Aught but submission in each guarded look.

Girt with his fierce Provençals, and with mien Austere in triumph, gazing on the scene,5 And in his eye a keen suspicious glance Of jealous pride and restless vigilance, Behold the conqueror!—vainly in his face, Of gentler feeling hope would seek a trace;