DAUGHTER of th' Italian heaven! Thou, to whom its fires are given, Joyously thy car hath rolled Where the conqueror's passed of old, And the festal sun that shone O'er three hundred triumphs gone, Makes thy day of glory bright, With a shower of golden light. Now thou tread'st th' ascending road, Freedom's foot so proudly trode; While, from tombs of heroes borne From the dust of empire shorn, Flowers upon thy graceful head, Chaplets of all hues, are shed, In a soft and rosy rain, Touched with many a gemlike stain. Thou hast gained the summit now! Music hails thee from below; -- Music, whose rich notes might stir Ashes of the sepulchre; Shaking with victorious notes All the bright air as it floats. Well may woman's heart beat high Unto that proud harmony! Now afar it rolls -- it dies -- And thy voice is heard to rise With a low and lovely tone In its thrilling power alone; And thy lyre's deep silvery string, Touched as by a breeze's wing, Murmurs tremblingly at first, Ere the tide of rapture burst. All the spirit of thy sky Now hath lit thy large dark eye, And thy cheek a flush hath caught From the joy of kindled thought; And the burning words of song From thy lip flow fast and strong, With a rushing stream's delight In the freedom of its might. Radiant daughter of the sun! Now thy living wreath is won. Crowned of Rome! -- Oh! art thou not Happy in that glorious lot? -- Happier, happier far than thou, With the laurel on thy brow, She that makes the humblest hearth Lovely but to one on earth! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NURSE'S SONG, FR. SONGS OF INNOCENCE by WILLIAM BLAKE A CROWNED POET by ANNE REEVE ALDRICH AN AUTUMNAL THOUGHT, 1795 by ANNA LETITIA BARBAULD THE POET'S TEAR by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON THE SENTRY'S MISTAKE by EDMUND CHARLES BLUNDEN THE SEA-POPPY by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES |