Saga of the North: Carthaginian -

Carthaginian

Who has heard the crack of Carthaginian whips
Upon the backs of frozen elephants,
The roar of war-horns in the Maritime Alps,
The snake-drums of Numidian cavalry?
Who has seen the Punic triremes walk the sea
Like water-spiders, to the yell of slaves? —
Or lamp-hung oxen charge the Apennines?
In vain, Great City by the sea!
Shot from the Roman catapult,
The head of Hasdrubal whizzes into the lap of Hannibal.
" Carthago ... Delenda est Carthago! ... "
In vain the shrieks of babes in Moloch fires,
Or twisted engine ropes of women's hair.
The eagle advances;
Flames spout from the rock-hewn windows of the elephant barracks;
Ships flare;
The ax of the proconsul leaps from its rods, —
And Carthage falls.

ON THE GREEN SURFACE OF A BRONZE COIN
A GENIAL NUMIDIAN LION
SMILES HERALDICALLY BENEATH A PALM TREE.
HANNIBAL STRUCK HIM TO PAY HIS SOLDIERS.