XCVII.

But thou! that on thy ramparts proudly dying,

As a crown’d leader in such hours should die,

Upon thy pyre of shiver’d spears art lying,

With the heavens o’er thee for a canopy,

And banners for thy shroud! No tear, no sigh,

Shall mingle with thy dirge; for thou art now

Beyond vicissitude! Lo! rear’d on high,

The Crescent blazes, while the Cross must bow—

But where no change can reach, there, Constantine, art thou!