Dusty and weary footing many a mile To him and to his fellow-prisoners, As to those willing sharers of his lot, Lay stretched before them on the Roman road. Eastward a stage by the Campanian Way To Capua--city famous then as since For lulling in her too luxurious lap To loss of manhood in enervate sloth Those warriors who, with the great Hannibal For leader, late had spurned the barrier Alps, Thence, like a loosened avalanche, had fallen On Italy--and might have taken Rome! A different conqueror now in captive's chains Was marching on that world-metropolis: No battle of the warrior would he wage, With confused noise and garments rolled in blood; Yet wrested from the Cæsars Rome should be And from the empire of her gods no gods! From Capua northwestward breaking sharp, The Way, now Appian from Campanian, led Over the stream Vulturnus; then across Savo to Sinuessa by the sea; Onward thence, climbing the Falernian hills Vine-clad, until the Massic, last of these, Descended on their northward-sliding slope, Shut off behind the wayfarers their view Of the bright summit of Vesuvius (His fiery heart uneasily asleep) And the blue circlet of the Lucrine Lake. Like a stream flooded level with its banks, The Appian Way was filled from side to side With travel flowing double to and fro. Now centuries of soldiers, foot or horse, Clanged iron hoof or heel with rhythmic beat Along the bedded rock that paved their way; Now pomps of embassy in various garb, Returning from their suits at Cæsar's feet Or thither tending vexed with hope or fear; Then some gay reveller to Baiæ bound, Behind his foaming steeds urged ever on, Dashed in his biga down the crowded road And recked not what might meet his whirling wheels; Next, moving slowly in more solemn state-- Outriders either hand and nigh before-- The chariot of some rich patrician rolled Who sought the spring of southern Italy: Huge wains there were, that creaked along the way Laden with beasts from Afric or from Ind, Lions and tigers, and hyenas dire; These--destined to dye red, perhaps with blood Of human ravin, the arena sands Of mighty amphitheaters, a feast Of foul and fell delight to avid eyes Of Roman lords and ladies gathered there With scum and dross plebeian to behold-- Now winked and glared behind their prison-bars Or frothed and fretted out their fierce disdain. Luxurious litters borne of sinewy slaves-- Who softly eased them, bending as they went With well-timed flexure and compliant gait Their supple knees in perfect unison-- Were thickly sown between, with ladies fair Reposing in them sunk in silk and down, Or senators of Rome effeminate; Besides, were foot-wayfarers, motley groups Or single, messengers that hasted post,