New Rome + 

Lines Written for Miss Story’s Album + 

The armless Vatican Cupid + 

Hangs down his beautiful head; + 

For the priests have got him in prison, + 

And Psyche long has been dead. + 

But see, his shaven oppressors + 

Begin to quake and disband! + 

And The Times, that bright Apollo, + 

Proclaims salvation at hand. + 

“And what,” cries Cupid, “will save us?” + 

Says Apollo: “Modernise Rome! + 

What inns! Your streets, too, how narrow! + 

Too much of palace and dome! + 

“O learn of London, whose paupers + 

Are not pushed out by the swells! + 

Wide streets with fine double trottoirs; + 

And then⁠—the London hotels!” + 

The armless Vatican Cupid + 

Hangs down his head as before. + 

Through centuries past it has hung so, + 

And will through centuries more. + 