I dine in the Apollo room tonight,
With Cicero and Pompey! See to it!
Cicero! Pompey! But ten years ago
Lucullus was the hero, Conqueror
Of Mithridates, Rescuer of Rome!
All’s Pompey now; he goes far—and has gone;
And, with it all, is just the honest, brave,
Young captain that I saw that hot, raw, day;
The first day of my shame. Oh gods, gods, gods!
Must Rome have always victories, victories,