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 I. 
 II. 
II A TRIPLE ALLIANCE
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29

II
A TRIPLE ALLIANCE

How grand a stroke for angels to record,—
That Milton's, Dante's, Hugo's warrior-lands
Joined ardent hearts and crime-subversive hands
And won for once Love's victory by the sword!
Beyond all dreams might be those Powers' reward.
From flower to flower a righteous deed expands:
Fresh fruits it bears, as year by year commands
And heavenlier sunlight round its path is poured.
France, England, Italy,—might not these attain
At last the ending of the blood-stained quest?
Might not the fleets that war with wave and breeze
Threaten the Turk, and in a twinkling gain
Through the near East a triumph for the West
Outtopping all old dull diplomacies?