 | Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy |  |
60
ON MONTE MOTTERONE
Thy feet are set in waters sapphire clear,
Thy knees are cool with chestnut and the vine,
The star-narcissus girds thee, bells of kine
Sound on thy brow, the lark enchants thine ear,
Northward the ice-kings frown, thou hast no fear—
Though east and west perpetual winter shine,
For southward to the furthest Apennine
Thine eyes can gaze on harvest all the year.
Thy knees are cool with chestnut and the vine,
The star-narcissus girds thee, bells of kine
Sound on thy brow, the lark enchants thine ear,
Northward the ice-kings frown, thou hast no fear—
Though east and west perpetual winter shine,
For southward to the furthest Apennine
Thine eyes can gaze on harvest all the year.
To thee was given a trust, and not in vain,
Thou great inspirer; he who when he died
Slept with his horse and armour by his side,
Here on this utmost peak, has left the key
To thy heart's secret; yonder peaceful plain
Knows well the crown of strife is Liberty.
Thou great inspirer; he who when he died
Slept with his horse and armour by his side,
Here on this utmost peak, has left the key
To thy heart's secret; yonder peaceful plain
Knows well the crown of strife is Liberty.
—The top of Monte Motterone is the scene of the meeting of Mazzini and leaders of Italian Unity, in George Meredith's novel Vittoria. In digging the foundation of the hotel on the ridge of the mountain, an axe, a spear, a horse-shoe and a key were found in what must have been some chieftain's grave.
| Sonnets in Switzerland and Italy | |