Where, with a scorn of time, proclaim
The records of a bygone fame
The ravished fanes, whose ruins trace
The march of Timour’s conquering race
And, mid her oft-beleagured towers,
Dark Ghuzni’s fortress sternly lowers;
Where many mouthèd Helmund makes
His briny home in Seistan’s lakes—
Not long delayed, the cannon’s boom
Shall sound the knell of Cabul’s doom.