Classic Poem

To all the Roman world she set wise laws.
Men praised her wisdom. Wealth was hers immense.
Men praised her splendour and munificence.
Alms to the poor her hand distributed.
Men praised her bounty. High she held her head
Amid the tempests of a turbulent time.
Men praised her courage. Cruelty and crime
She scourged with scorpions. Men her justice praised.
Gifts to the Church she gave, and altars raised.
Men praised her piety. She in the West
Treaties proposed and embassies addrest
To Charlemagne. She in the East maintain'd
On equal terms alliance undisdain'd
With great Haroun Alraschid. “For,” said she,
“We understand each other's worth, We Three.”
The world, when speaking of her, said, “The Great.”