11-07-2025, 02:07 AM
"Cicero's Tongue"
(Revised)
A splendid peacock upon the Senate floor
My speeches forged to whip the crowd to roar
My tears rehearsed, my virtue memorized
I spun comspiracies from cloth of lies
Bellowed rumours to prove my noble cause
Then slew the law to sanctify the laws
"The welfare of the people must be over all"
So I killed without trial as Senate stood tall
"Gratitude is parent of all virtue," I lied
As I bowed to Caesar to mask my umbraged pride
The knives were steel, but mine the sharper art
I stabbed with syntax, smiling at my part
I saved the Republic from all but myself
As the Curia burns, I toast my health
I loved my country, but myself the better
I sold Truth to gild my splendid theatre
No faith had I, except to fortune's whim
I was a reed shaken by every rough wind
Rome fell to my words, you mouth them all the same
I bore the liar’s guilt, you wear its shame
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(earlier version)
A splendid peacock upon the Senate floor
My speeches forged to whip the crowd to roar
My tears rehearsed, my virtue memorised
I spun conspiracies from cloth of lies
Bellowed rumours to prove my noble cause
Then slew the law to sanctify the laws
"The welfare of the people must be over all"
So I killed without trial as Senate stood tall
"Gratitude is parent of all virtue," I lied
As I bowed to Caesar to mask my graceless pride
The knives were steel, but mine the sharper art
I stabbed with syntax, smiling at my part
I saved the Republic from all but myself
As Curia burns, I toast to my good health
I loved my country, but myself the better
I sold my Truth to gild my gaudy theatre
Never faithful, except to fortune's whim
I was a reed shaken by every rough wind
Rome fell to my words, you mouth them all the same
I bore the liar’s guilt, you wear its shame
(Revised)
A splendid peacock upon the Senate floor
My speeches forged to whip the crowd to roar
My tears rehearsed, my virtue memorized
I spun comspiracies from cloth of lies
Bellowed rumours to prove my noble cause
Then slew the law to sanctify the laws
"The welfare of the people must be over all"
So I killed without trial as Senate stood tall
"Gratitude is parent of all virtue," I lied
As I bowed to Caesar to mask my umbraged pride
The knives were steel, but mine the sharper art
I stabbed with syntax, smiling at my part
I saved the Republic from all but myself
As the Curia burns, I toast my health
I loved my country, but myself the better
I sold Truth to gild my splendid theatre
No faith had I, except to fortune's whim
I was a reed shaken by every rough wind
Rome fell to my words, you mouth them all the same
I bore the liar’s guilt, you wear its shame
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(earlier version)
A splendid peacock upon the Senate floor
My speeches forged to whip the crowd to roar
My tears rehearsed, my virtue memorised
I spun conspiracies from cloth of lies
Bellowed rumours to prove my noble cause
Then slew the law to sanctify the laws
"The welfare of the people must be over all"
So I killed without trial as Senate stood tall
"Gratitude is parent of all virtue," I lied
As I bowed to Caesar to mask my graceless pride
The knives were steel, but mine the sharper art
I stabbed with syntax, smiling at my part
I saved the Republic from all but myself
As Curia burns, I toast to my good health
I loved my country, but myself the better
I sold my Truth to gild my gaudy theatre
Never faithful, except to fortune's whim
I was a reed shaken by every rough wind
Rome fell to my words, you mouth them all the same
I bore the liar’s guilt, you wear its shame