Urbs Sacra Æterna

ROME! what a scroll of History thine has been

In the first days thy sword republican

Ruled the whole world for many an age's span:

Then of thy peoples thou wert crownèd Queen

Till in thy streets the bearded Goth was seen;

And now upon thy walls the breezes fan

(Ah, city crowned by God, discrowned by man!)

The hated flag of red and white and green.