JOVINIAN THE PROUD. A Legend of Rome. I. WHEN great imperial Rome in days of yore His wisdom, and the vassal nations bowed: In his vain heart he felt himself to be With more than mortal intellect endowed; Till by degrees from fear of sorrow free, He said within himself, "I am a Deity!" II. One morning, in his arrogance of mood, He straight commands his choicest chivalry To hunt the deer within a neighbouring wood. The chase was long, the burning sun was high, And not a cloud hung in the azure sky. Wearied and faint, the Emperor espied A crystal stream of quiet privacy; He therefore cast his purple robes aside, And gaily plunged into the river's pleasant tide. III. But while he bathed in this refreshing place, A person, unperceived by him, drew nigh So like the Emperor in form and face, He might have well deceived the keenest eye. Clothing himself in robes of royalty, He leapt upon Jovinian's horse, and rode To meet the courtiers, who stood close by Beneath some trees, near which the river flowed: Then all spur onward to the Emperor's abode. IV. At length Jovinian from the river sprang, And looked around for horse and robes in vain; With his loud cries the echoing forests rang, Till he grew nearly mad with rage and pain! And then he paused, and now he called again. After a time, the Emperor groaning cried, (His bosom raging with his fierce disdain,) "How dare such wretchedness to me betide! Oh, whither shall I fly my nakedness to hide! V. "Who will receive me in this wretched plight? Ah, I remember! Not far hence there dwells One I've advanced to wealth, a faithful knight: So I will seek him, and my heart foretells He will rejoice to aid me." Thus he quells His present rage, resolving before long To wreak his vengeance, while his proud heart swells When pondering on the insult and the wrong He had sustained that morn: this made the mo narch strong! |