Page:Carducci - Poems of Italy.djvu/41

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Mentana saw proclaimed the ages' shame,
Cæsar's and Peter's infamous embrace;
Thou hast, O Garibaldi, at Mentana
On Peter and on Cæsar set thy foot.

O thou, of Aspromonté splendid rebel,
O glorious victor of Mentana thou,
Come then, and tell Palermo's tale and Rome's
Unto Camillus in the Capitol!"—

Thus a mysterious voice of spirits ran
Solemnly through the Italian sky that day
When all the vile lamented in their fright—
Curs that shrank cowering from the avenging lash.

Now, Italy adores thee. A new Rome
Is hailing thee her latest Romulus.
Thou dost ascend, divine one; round thy head
There cannot come the silences of death.

Over the common gulf of little souls
Refulgent art thou, by the ages called
Up to the lofty heights and councils pure
Of gods and heroes watching o'er our land.

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