Rome, Rome, thou art no more
As thou hast been!
On thy seven hills of yore
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Rome, Rome, thou art no more
As thou hast been!
On thy seven hills of yore
Thou sat'st a queen.

I had rather be a dog and bay the moon
Than such a Roman.

I had rather be a dog and bay the moon
Than such a Roman.

See the wild Waste of all-devouring years!
How Rome her own sad Sepulchre appears,
With nodding arches, read more

See the wild Waste of all-devouring years!
How Rome her own sad Sepulchre appears,
With nodding arches, broken temples spread!
The very Tombs now vanish'd like their dead!

When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall;
And when Rome falls--the World.

When falls the Coliseum, Rome shall fall;
And when Rome falls--the World.

In tears I tossed my coin from Trevi's edge.
A coin unsordid as a bond of love--
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In tears I tossed my coin from Trevi's edge.
A coin unsordid as a bond of love--
And, with the instinct of the homing dove,
I gave to Rome my rendezvous and pledge.
And when imperious Death
Has quenched my flame of breath,
Oh, let me join the faithful shades that throng that fount above.

What Roman power slowly built, an unarmed traitor instantly
overthrew.
[Lat., Quod tantis Romana manus contexuit annis
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What Roman power slowly built, an unarmed traitor instantly
overthrew.
[Lat., Quod tantis Romana manus contexuit annis
Proditur unus iners angusto tempore vertit.]

O Rome! my country! city of the soul!

O Rome! my country! city of the soul!

When they are at Rome, they do there as they see done.

When they are at Rome, they do there as they see done.

If you are at Rome live in the Roman style; if you are elsewhere
live as they live elsewhere.
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If you are at Rome live in the Roman style; if you are elsewhere
live as they live elsewhere.
[Lat., Si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more;
Si fueris alibi, vivito sicut ibi.]