THE WHITE SLAVES.(1860.)
The household of a Roman, in Rome's luxurious time,
Was filled with slaves in waiting from every conquered clime.
There were dreamy-eyed Egyptians, born where the lotus blows,
And Syrians won from Lebanon, fair as its sunset glows,
And dancing-girls from Cadiz to while the hours with song,
And dark Numidian beauties, the bronzes of the throng,
And light-haired Scythians that pined beneath his palace dome,
And stately Carthaginian maids who would not smile in Rome!
These were their master's chattels, and humbly watched his ways,
And kept his house, and swelled his train, and graced his festal days;
But should the princely Roman forget his high disdain,
Was filled with slaves in waiting from every conquered clime.
There were dreamy-eyed Egyptians, born where the lotus blows,
And Syrians won from Lebanon, fair as its sunset glows,
And dancing-girls from Cadiz to while the hours with song,
And dark Numidian beauties, the bronzes of the throng,
And light-haired Scythians that pined beneath his palace dome,
And stately Carthaginian maids who would not smile in Rome!
These were their master's chattels, and humbly watched his ways,
And kept his house, and swelled his train, and graced his festal days;
But should the princely Roman forget his high disdain,
