The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince Edited by R. A. Douglas Lithgow |
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ITALY AWAKENED. |
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 | The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince |  |
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ITALY AWAKENED.
Well done at last, thou fair and storied land!
For thou hast broken from the thrall of years,
Cast off thy lethargy, dispelled thy fears,
And grappled tyranny with daring hand;
Watched by the nations, thou didst well withstand
The stubborn Austrian, who oppressed thee sore,
Banished the cruel Bourbon from thy shore,
And raised a wiser monarch to command.
Much hast thou done, but more remains to do
Ere thy new freedom can unclouded shine;
The City of the Waters must be thine,
With all her fertile provinces thereto;
And unprogressive Popedom must not stay
Thy glowing chariot wheels on thy triumphant way.
For thou hast broken from the thrall of years,
Cast off thy lethargy, dispelled thy fears,
And grappled tyranny with daring hand;
Watched by the nations, thou didst well withstand
The stubborn Austrian, who oppressed thee sore,
Banished the cruel Bourbon from thy shore,
And raised a wiser monarch to command.
Much hast thou done, but more remains to do
Ere thy new freedom can unclouded shine;
The City of the Waters must be thine,
With all her fertile provinces thereto;
And unprogressive Popedom must not stay
Thy glowing chariot wheels on thy triumphant way.
But in thy triumph thou must not forget
That man of grand simplicity of mind,
With whom thy destiny is now combined,
To whom thou owest a transcendent debt;
The hero-hermit of Caprera's rock
Claims gratitude and trust, which are his due,
For he is valiant, merciful, and true,
And ready to resist Oppression's shock.
He will not fail thee in the perilous hour,
Nor hold a traitorous parley with thy foes;
Where'er he goes, stern honour also goes,
And wisely guides his delegated power:
He wars for holiest purposes, and Fame
Will breathe with burning lips great Garibaldi's name.
That man of grand simplicity of mind,
With whom thy destiny is now combined,
To whom thou owest a transcendent debt;
The hero-hermit of Caprera's rock
Claims gratitude and trust, which are his due,
For he is valiant, merciful, and true,
And ready to resist Oppression's shock.
He will not fail thee in the perilous hour,
Nor hold a traitorous parley with thy foes;
Where'er he goes, stern honour also goes,
And wisely guides his delegated power:
307
Will breathe with burning lips great Garibaldi's name.
Oh! for another Tasso, who could write
Of Italy delivered, and rehearse
In stirring, truthful, and immortal verse,
Thy patriotic prowess in the fight;—
Sing of her patient suffering through the past,
Till the two tyrants goaded her to strife;—
Speak of her present newly-kindled life,
And hopes, which may be realised at last;—
Expatiate on the future of her time,
When Peace shall fold her in her stainless wing,
And the pure light of Liberty shall bring
New charms to all the beauties of her clime.
Thus, with the in-born prescience of a seer,
The Poet would foreshow her glorious career.
Of Italy delivered, and rehearse
In stirring, truthful, and immortal verse,
Thy patriotic prowess in the fight;—
Sing of her patient suffering through the past,
Till the two tyrants goaded her to strife;—
Speak of her present newly-kindled life,
And hopes, which may be realised at last;—
Expatiate on the future of her time,
When Peace shall fold her in her stainless wing,
And the pure light of Liberty shall bring
New charms to all the beauties of her clime.
Thus, with the in-born prescience of a seer,
The Poet would foreshow her glorious career.
| The Poetical Works of John Critchley Prince | |