The Last Caesar（一）

    Now there was one who came in later days

    To play at Emperor： in the dead of night

    Stole crown and sceptre， and stood forth to light

    In sudden purple. The dawn's straggling rays

    Showed Paris fettered， murmuring in amaze，

    With red hands at her throat——a piteous sight.

    Then the new Caesar， stricken with affright

    At his own daring， shrunk from public gaze

    In the Elysee， and had lost the day

    But that around him flocked his birds of prey，

    Sharp-beaked， voracious， hungry for the deed.

    'Twixt hope and fear behold great Caesar hang！

    Meanwhile， methinks， a ghostly laughter rang

    Through the rotunda of the Invalides.