Explore "History" by Ambrose Bierce on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
What wrecked the Roman power? One says vice, / Another indolence, another dice.
Emascle says polygamy. "Not so," / Says Impycu -- "twas luxury and show." / The parson, lifting up a brow of brass, / Swears superstition gave the "coup de grace", / Great Allison, the statesman-chap affirms / 'Twas lack of coins (croaks Medico: "T was worms") / And John P. Jones the swift suggestion collars, / Averring the no coins were silver dollars.
Thus, through the ages, each presuming quack / Turns the poor corpse upon its rotten back, / Holds a new "autopsy" and finds that death / Resulted partly from the want of breath, / But chiefly from some visitation sad / That points his argument or serves his fad.
They're all in error -- never human mind / The cause of the disaster has divined.
What slew the Roman power? Well, provided / You'll keep the secret, I will tell you. I did.