vent unto his anger
By this discontented grumbling,
There above gay life was surging,
And arrayed in festal garments
Crowds went toward the Vatican.
On St. Angelo's Bridge was hardly
Room enough for all the passers.
Crowding came in Spanish mantles,
Wigs and swords, the grand Signori;
Then some black Franciscan friars,
Also Capuchins, and common
Roman burghers. Here and there a
Sun-burnt and wild-looking shepherd
Of the near Campagna wore with
Classic grace his tattered garment;
And among them, with light footsteps,
Walked the lovely Roman maidens,
With black veils, although this covering
Did not hide their fervent glances.
(O how can the glowing sunshine,
Even when its rays are gathered
By adepts in their reflectors,
E'er compare with Roman glances?
Heart which felt their flames, be silent!)

From the castle of St. Angelo
Flutter gaily many banners,
Bearing all the Pope's insignia,
Both the mitre and the crossed keys,
Giving notice of the feast-day
Kept in honour of St. Peter.

There before the proud cathedral
Were the sparkling fountains playing;
Through the spray the vivid rainbow
Glitters o'er the granite basins.
And the obelisk gigantic
Of Rameses, King of Egypt,
Looked upon the crowd of people,
In his native tongue lamenting:
"Most perplexing are these Romans!
In the time of Nero hardly
Did I comprehend their doings;
Now still less I understand them.
But this much I have discovered,
That the climate here is chilly.
Amun-Re, thou god of sunlight,
Take me home to my old friends there,
To the Sphinx, and let me once more
Hear the prayer of Memnon's column
Through the glowing desert ringing!"

On the broad steps of the Vatican
And beneath the marble columns
Tall Swiss halberdiers are walking
To and fro in keeping watch there.
Clanging through the hall the echo
Of their heavy tread is ringing.
To the gray old corporal turning
Speaks a youthful soldier sadly:
"Fine, indeed, and proud we Swiss are,
And I see no other soldiers
In the streets of Rome as jaunty
As we look with our cuirasses,
In the black, red, yellow doublet.