O, bright Egyptian Queen! thy day is past With the young Cæsar--lo! the spell is broken That thy all-radiant beauty o'er him cast; His eye is cold--wo! for thy grief unspoken! Yet thy proud features wear a mask, which tells How true thou art to thy commanding nature:-- Once more, in all thy wild bewildering spells, Thou standest robed and crowned, imperial creature: Thy royal barge is on the sunny sea, Oh! sceptered queen--goest thou victoriously?
But hark! a trumpet's thrilling call "to arms!" O'er the soft sounds of lute and lyre ringeth. Doubt not thy matchless sovereignty of charms, But haste--the victor of Philippi bringeth His shielded warriors and lords renowned-- With spear and princely crest they come to meet thee, Arrayed for triumph, and with laurels crowned, How will their stern and haughty leader treat thee? He comes to conquer--lo! on bended knee The spell-bound Roman pleads, and yields to thee!
Once more the world is thine. Exultingly Thy beautiful and stately head is lifted; He lives but in thy smile--proud Antony-- The crowned of empire--he, the grandly gifted. The spoils of nations at thy feet are laid-- The wealth of kingdoms for thy favor scattered: Oh! Syren of the Nile! thy love has made The royal Roman's ruin! crowns were shattered And kingdoms lost. Fame, honor, glory, power, Were playthings given to grace thy triumph-hour.
Another change!--the last for thee, doomed queen, Now calmly on thine ivory couch reclining-- The impassioned glow hath left thy marble mien-- And from thine night-black eyes hath past the shining. But _still_ a queen! that brow, so icy cold, Its diadem of starry jewels beareth-- Robed in the royal purple, and the gold, No conqueror's chain that form imperial beareth. To grace _Death's_ triumph was but left for thee, Daughter of Afric, by the asp set free!
_An Universal History of the Most Remarkable Events of All Nations, from the Earliest Period to the Present Time, forming a Complete History of the World. Vol._ 1. _Ancient History. William H. Graham: New York._
This is one of the most useful works now issuing from the American press. Its publication has been commenced in this country somewhat in advance of the London and Leipsic editions, which have been previously advertised; thus securing an immediate circulation in the three great reading nations of the world. The entire work will embrace about twenty numbers, appearing at intervals of a month. The first four of these, two numbers of which are before us, are devoted to Ancient History, extending to the Fall of the Roman Empire.