Classic Poem

ON THE FRAGMENTS OF A ROMAN URN, Found at C AISTER , in Norfolk .

When Cæsar led his bold, imperial band—
Thro' trembling Britain,—to enslave the land,
Some Roman then, in this distinguish'd place ,
Of simple clay, wrought this unpolish'd vase,
Fill'd it with relicks, of th' illustrious dead,
And o'er the Urn , the earthy covering spread;
Firm grew the sod, as verdant sprang the grass:
Thus, year on year, and age on age did pass;
Safe, undisturb'd the sleeping manes lay,
Securely guarded from the vulgar clay.
But hapless fate! the peasant's ruthless hand
Mark'd the sad spot, and broke the sacred land,
The earth upturn'd, th' unshelter'd vase appears,
(Safe had it rested eighteen hundred years.)
At one fell stroke, the shatter'd fragments flew!
The light contents exposed to vulgar view—
In wanton sport, dispersed the passing gale,
And fann'd them, diverse, down the distant vale.