I've stood upon Achilles' tomb, And heard Troy doubted: time will doubt of Rome

Time, the avenger! unto thee I lift / My hands, and eyes, and heart, and crave of thee a gift.

Think'st thou existence doth depend on time? It doth; but actions are our epochs

The isles of Greece, the isles of Greece! / Where burning Sappho loved and sung, / Where grew the arts of war and peace, / Where Delos rose, and Phoebus sprung! / Eternal summer gilds them yet, / But all, except their sun, is set.

The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold, / And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold; / And the sheen of their spears was like stars on the sea, / When the blue wave rolls nightly on deep Galilee.

While stands the Coliseum, Rome shall stand; / When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall; / And when Rome falls - the World.