A Poem On Rome Poem by Johannes Scotus Eriugena

' Built up by heroes in the ancient days,
Now ruled by slaves, O Rome, thy fame decays,
Long since thy kings have left thy ruined walls;
Thy name, once precious, to the Greek now falls.
New Rome, Constantinople, holds thy power;
And, ancient Rome, thou seest thy final hour.
Empire is gone from thee, but pride yet stays,
And basest avarice shames thy closing days.
A people from the earth's most distant lands,
A servile race, impose on thee commands.
Thy noble sons are gone, what greater ill!
And free-born Romans Grecian fields now till.
Once thou to cruel death the saints didst hale,
Their lifeless bones thou now dost keep on sale.
Urn that saints Paul and Peter sleep with thee,
Surely most pitiful thy state would lie.'