Contents.
The New Roman Road.
[The present Pope has given his consent to build railroads in his dominions, which the former Pope was averse to. The following lines are predicated on his consent.]
Ancient Romans, ancient Romans—
Cato, Scipio Africanus,
Ye whose fame's eclips'd by no man's,
Publius Æmilianus,
Sylla, Marius, Pompey, Cæsar,
Fabius, dilatory teaser,
Coriolanus, and ye Gracchi
Who gave so many a foe a black eye,
Antony, Lepidus, and Crassus;
And you, ye votaries of Parnassus,
Virgil, and Horace, and Tibullus,
Terence and Juvenal, Catullus,
Martial, and all ye wits beside,
On Pegasus expert to ride;
Numa, good king, surnamed Pampilius,
And Tullus, eke 'yclept Hostilius—
Kings, Consuls, Imperators, Lictors,
Prætors, the whole world's former victors,
Who sleep by yellow Tiber's brink;
Ye mighty names—what d'ye think?
The Pope has sanctioned Railway Bills!
And so the lofty Aventine,
And your six other famous hills
Will soon look down upon a 'Line.'
Oh! if so be that hills could turn
Their noses up, with gesture antic,
Thus would the seven deride and spurn
A Roman work so unromantic:
'Was this the ancient Roman Way.
With tickets taken, fares to pay,
Stockers and Engineers, perhaps—
Nothing more likely—English chaps
Brawling away, 'Go on!' for Ito,
And 'Cut along!' instead of Cito;
The engine letting off its steam,
With puff and whistle, snort and scream;
A smell meanwhile, like burning clothes,
Flouting the angry Roman nose?
Is it not Conscript Fathers shocking?
Does it not seem your mem'ry mocking?
The Roman and the Railway station—
What an incongruous combination!
How odd, with no one to adore him,
Terminus—and in the Forum!'—[Punch.