THE NEW ROMAN ROAD. [From Punch.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 149, 2 January 1847, Page 4

THE NEW ROMAN ROAD. [From Punch.]

Ancient Romans, Ancient Romans, Cato, Scipio Africanus, Ye whose fame's eclipsed by no man'i ; Publius jEmilianus, Sylla, Marius, Pompey, Casac, Fabius, dilatory teazer Coriolamis, and ye Gracchi, Who gave to many a face a black eye, Antony, Lepidus and Crassus ; And you, ye votaries of Parnassus, Virgil, Horace, and Tibullus, Terence and Juvenal, Catullus, Martial, and all -ye wits beside ' On Pegasus expert to ride : Numa, good king, surnamed Pompilius, And Tullus, eke yclept Hostilius — Kings, Consuls, Imperators, Lictors, Prsetors, the whole world's former victors, Who sleep by yellow Tiber's brink 1 Te mighty manes — what d'ye think ? The Pope has sanctioned Railway bills, And so the lofty Aventine And you six other famous hills Will soon look down upon a " Line.'' Oh ! if so be that hills could turn Their noses up, with gesture antic, Thus would the seven deride and spurn A Roman work so unromantic :—: — •' Was this the ancient Roman way, With tickets taken, fares to pay, Stokers and engineers, perhaps — Nothing more likely — English chaps Bawling away, "Go on 1" for JtQ, And "Cut along!" instead of Citot The engine letting off its steam With puff and whistle, snort and scream ; A smell, meanwhile, like burning clothes, ~ Flouting the angry Roman nose. '-3jP.it not, Conscript Fathers, shocking ? fw|ta4j: not seem your mem'ry mocking? The M&man and the Railway Station — What an incongruous combination 1 How odd, and no one to adore him, A Terminus — and in the Forum 1"