The Result of a Fallen Empire

Roman Ruins

            Two things humanity cannot fight or escape are the forces of nature and time. These forces and their power against humanity is demonstrated in the medieval Anglo-Saxon lyric, “The Ruin,” where the author has remained anonymous since the ninth-century. This ancient lyric makes the comparison between human beings and the ruins of a fallen empire, which illustrate the author’s sentimental tone toward the once great Roman Empire while also celebrating the impressive memory Rome left behind.

            In “The Ruin,” the author starts with alluding to time by acknowledging the relationship between the stone remains and the effect time has had on the memory of a fallen civilization. The unfortunate city has been “slumped by time” with only the earth to uphold the crumbling structures and the “rotting” memory of the architects who built it, “while a hundred generations passed away” (“The Ruin” 321). As the structure crumbles away so does the memory of the “bold-minded” people who built the “ribs of the city” (“The Ruins” 321). Next, the effects of nature is mentioned and even though Rome was known for its strength, nature had also taken a hefty toll on the civilization. “Days of pestilence ran rampant” through Rome and like time, nature has outlasted the Romans, which is illustrated in the destruction of the city that is left behind (“The Ruin” 321). However, despite the unfortunate fall of Rome, the author seems to praise the Romans and the accomplishments they achieved throughout their reign. By recognizing their “splendor” of riches and their “glorious citadel of a stout kingdom,” the author seems to be honoring the Roman Empire (“The Ruin” 322). This is further proven when the author acknowledges that, despite the shambles the Roman city is left in, it can still be considered a “fitting” city because the memory of the life that took place there is still alive even as time continues to pass (“The Ruin” 322).

            After reading this lyric, I responded the most to the imagery and the connections made between humanity, time and nature. The author of “The Ruin” beautifully described the crumbling city and the life that once was, through their imagery, which made me feel more connected to the devastation that took place there all those years ago. Lastly, the message the author conveyed about time and nature outlasting humanity, gave the poem a melancholy tone because of the truth behind it. The author brought death and destruction to the audience’s attention, which conveyed a truthful message and that's what I admired the most in this lyric.