The famous poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley presents a bleak view of past glory.  Lesser known is that this work resulted from a contest, as did his wife’s classic horror tale, “Frankenstein.”  Reprinted below are both Shelley’s version and that of Horace Smith.  While Shelley’s has greater appeal for its poetic form, I think that Smith’s rendition has more value due to the lesson it presents, a cautionary tale of the all too common fate of empire.  Please read and judge for yourself.