Classic Poem

City and Port — Church — Palace — Square and Tower
With gold, and gems, and marble, rich and gay —
What wert thou Venice — and whence rose thy power?
Bare isles — poor huts — shoals and a fisher's bay —
But men immovable in danger's hour,
Scorning all chains, and of no vice the prey,
Espoused thee — Liberty thine only dower —
Whence Glory — and then Wealth — and then Decay!
No lust of Conquest and of Gold no thirst,
Thy glorious founders... noble hearts possest
Freedom they loved — Falsehood they spurned and curst
Like Fear unworthy of a generous breast:
Would that thou hadst their Virtues always nurst!
And not been first corrupted — then opprest!