2. the Roman Twins.
by A. J. H. Duganne.
'Twas told by Roman soothsayers,What time they read the stars,
That Romulus and Remus
Sprang from the loins of Mars:
That Romulus and Remus
Were twin-born on the earth,
And in the lap of a she-wolf
Were suckled from their birth.
By Heaven! I think this legend--
This ancient Roman myth--
For mine own time, and mine own clime,
Is full of pregnant pith.
Romulus stood with Remus,
And plowed the Latian loam,
And traced, by yellow Tiber,
The nascent walls of Rome;
Then laughed the dark twin, Remus,
And scoffed his brother's toil,
And over the bounds of Romulus
He leaped upon his soil.
By Heaven!
I think that Remus
And Romulus at bay,
Of Slavery's strife and Liberty's life
Were antetypes that day!
The sucklings of the she-wolf
Stood face to face in wrath,
And Romulus swept Remus
Like stubble from his path;
Then crested he with temples
The Seven Hills of his home,
And builded there, by Tiber,
The eternal walls of Rome!
By Heaven!
I think this legend
Hath store of pregnant pith;
For mine own time, and mine own clime,
'Tis more than Roman myth!
Like Romulus and Remus,
Out of the loins of Mars,
Our Slavery and our Liberty
Were born from cruel wars.
To both the Albic she-wolf
Her bloody suck did give,
And one must slay the other,
Ere one in peace can live.
By Heaven!
this brave old legend
Straight to our hearts comes home-,
When Slavery dies, shall grandly rise
Freedom's Eternal Rome!
