With human blood; whose idols there

With eyes of stone still stand and stare.

So old, the moon can only know

How old, since ancient forests grow

On mighty wall and pyramid.

Huge ceïbas, whose trunks were scarred

With ages, and dense yuccas, hid

Fanes 'mid great cacti, scarlet-starred.

I looked upon its paven ways

And saw it in its kingliest days;