70
His squibs determined to let off
Howe’er the beast of Rome might scoff.
This famous town has a renown
Well worthy of a place in history,
Though little known to northern readers:
Forgot its struggles, feuds and leaders:
Now but the haunt of cattle breeders:
Of all its various worthies, I
Won’t here attempt to give a list, or re-
Capitulate its doughty deeds
(Its chronicle’s far too long-winded,
And such a pendant little needs;
Nor could I if I were so minded.)
Against the Austrian tyranny,
Or earlier, how it drove the Gri-
Gioni to their native valleys
When they made buccaneering sallies
For plunder and proselytizing,
The latter being a sort of sizing
To put upon the first, a sort of
Religious gloss: all that I thought of
In this concise parenthesis
Was to point out the place about
To be the theatre of this
New and veracious epopee
Was not unworthy to be chosen
(As every reader, if he goes on
To th’ end will, I feel sure, agree.)
For such a scope; and now, I hope,
The birthplace of Guicciardi and
Large-hearted Beccaria being formally
Presented to Italia’s warm ally,
