And their rais'd arms in early sorrow wrung;

The younger smil'd, unconscious of their woe;

At which thy tears, O Rome! began to flow;

So sad the scene! What then must Perseus feel,

To see Jove's race attend the victor's wheel:

To see the slaves of his worst foes increase,

From such a source!—An emperor's embrace!

He sicken'd soon to death; and, what is worse,

He well deserv'd, and felt, the coward's curse;

Unpitied, scorn'd, insulted his last hour,