Sonnets written chiefly during a tour through Holland, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Hungary. By Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley |
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SONNET.
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153
SONNET.
TO VENICE, ON HEARING OF THE EMPEROR'S VISIT, 1838.
Venice!—Oh! Venice! how wilt thou receiveThy Lord Imperial?—will those waves once more
Which bore thy far-famed Bucentaur, of yore,
Greet a crowned Bridegroom, and forbear to grieve—
As with salt tears, for all that they must leave—
That they have left, like sea-weeds on their shore?—
The palms of power—the bays, thy proud sons wore
Of Victory!—who would such a tale believe?
No! let them press and crowd and multiply
Triumph on Triumph, Pomp on Pomp, and Show
On Show, to dazzle-charm the astonished eye!—
These can but gild and but array thy Woe!
And crown the front of thy great Misery,
A Funeral-festival!—as thy deep heart shall know!
Lazaretto, Orsova.
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