Ere blasts from northern lands Had cover'd Italy with barren sands, Rome's Genius, smitten sore, Wail'd on the Danube, and was heard no more. Twelve centuries had past And crusht Etruria rais'd her head at last. A mightier Power she saw, Poet and prophet, give three worlds the law. When Dante's strength arose Fraud met aghast the boldest of her foes; Religion, sick to death, Lookt doubtful up, and drew in pain her breath. Both to one grave are gone; Altars still smoke, still is the God unknown. Haste, whoso from above Comest with purer fire and larger love, Quenchest the Stygian torch, And leadest from the @3Garden@1 and the @3Porcb,@1 Where gales breathe fresh and free, And where a Grace is call'd a Charity, To Him, the God of peace, Who bids all discord in his household cease . . Bids it, and bids again, But to the purple-vested speaks in vain. Crying, "Can this be borne?" The consecrated wine-skins creak with scorn; While, leaving tumult there, To quiet idols young and old repair, In places where is light To lighten day . . and dark to darken night. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...QUATRAIN: THE PARCAE by THOMAS BAILEY ALDRICH TO THE MEMORY OF SAMUEL WHITBREAD by BERNARD BARTON THE WORK THAT SAVES by HORATIO (HORATIUS) BONAR PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A GHOST by ALTER BRODY HEAVEN AND EARTH by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING |