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Italy one hundred five years before Christ is born Birthplace of great empire, cradle of civilization A glorious green canvas for history to adorn So pretty a sight, some would take it by fight Mainly most monstrously martial marauders As a good scholar poses, each history chapter closes With a dark rush of barbarian invaders. |
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With a greater number of their women and children Seeking territories to proclaim their new kingdom They hurtle forth like devouring flames of violence With grey-eyed fierceness, they march to Rome fearless Those who assault them possess not a prayer In this majestic land, is there a military man To save history from these ugly invaders? |
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Through cleverness a bold Roman general conquers The mighty Jugurtha, King of Numidia To all Romans, one man no one could ever deter To Sulla glory goes, but Italy knows They would nominate the sly one their savior "Consul Caius Marius, you are the man we all choose To save us from these fierce Teutonic invaders." |
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Marriage to Julia Caesar heightened his stature He purged Spain of its infested barbarous robbers Nephew Julius modeled after his character Tireless in labor, temperate with liquor He declined to learn Greek (taught by slave teachers) With the proper countenance, and the help of Providence Can he rally Italy against such invaders? |
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Strange in appearance and uttering strange idiom These great masses take six days to pass over a crest Stunning huge numbers, but the Unknown proves most fearsome Stark impending doom, in Roman faces looms Trebled through Teutonic taunts meant to wither "We can pass last words, to your women who purr When we become their most belovéd invaders." |
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That familiarity might conquer their great fear For Marius knows better acquaintance with strange men Makes them far less frightful than they appear Then arrives the day, the straining soldiers say: "You’re holding us back from a battle most fair. Let us prove ourselves to be the men to save Italy From these impertinently taunting invaders." |
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"Think not of the fine glory of triumphs and trophies Rather how we might repel such a tempest of war, While I consult oracles on our victory." (A supposed prophetess, his strategy to bless) Leaving the soldiers to rejoice at two vultures Who signal their success, accompanying their marches After these menacingly maneuvering invaders. |
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Beastlike cursings and howlings that chill Threats and lamentations arise from the hordes Echoing ominously through river banks and hills This army of freaks up from the plain shrieks Striking the Roman soldiers with terror Giving Marius to sense a nocturnal engagement With these hideously wailing invaders. |
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Extravagant warriors resembling wild beasts Quadruple the Romans, overly anxious to fight Full-length white shields glittering over iron breasts They seem even taller, thanks to great plume feathers Driving Marius to seek succor through prayer The gods send a dust cloud, the Teutons to enshroud Cloaking the huge numbers of the invaders. |
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Not afrighted by German hordes they can’t see Who, raised in cold and shady climates up north Melt away in the blazing hot sun of Italy Much out-of-breath, and sweating to death But not a single Roman, in all the toil and glare Breaks into a sweat, so well-conditioned instead To attack tirelessly the wilting invaders. |
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Their breaking ranks or retreating to prevent Long chains attach through their belts like a tether Presenting like sweet meat the warriors most valiant Flailing without surcease, Romans hack them to pieces The Teutons resist no more their penetrators But losing all valiance, rapidly flee the Italians Chaos defeating the neatly-rowed invaders. |
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Met by German women in black with swords on wagons Who slay all of their fathers and brothers and husbands And strangle their own children with bloody talons Then toss them like chattel, under feet of cattle As Romans aghast can do nothing but stare The men use the oxen to tear themselves limb-from-limb Thus would go history with such warlike invaders. |
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The populace naming him third founder of Rome For diverting a danger far more serious Than ancient Gauls sacking their ancient kingdom All the history, coming from Italy Civilization, Christianity, Caesars Might never’ve been, Marius the gods hadn’t chosen To save history from these barbaric invaders! |
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