Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Italy: Vols. XI–XIII. 1876–79. | | | | Introductory | | Italy | | Oliver Goldsmith (1730–1774) |
| | | FAR to the right, where Apennine ascends, | |
| Bright as the summer Italy extends. | |
| Its uplands sloping deck the mountain’s side, | |
| Woods over woods in gay theatric pride; | |
| While oft some temple’s mouldering tops between | 5 |
| With venerable grandeur mark the scene. | |
| Could nature’s bounty satisfy the breast, | |
| The sons of Italy were surely blest. | |
| Whatever fruits in different climes are found, | |
| That proudly rise, or humbly court the ground; | 10 |
| Whatever blooms in torrid tracts appear, | |
| Whose bright succession decks the varied year: | |
| Whatever sweets salute the northern sky | |
| With vernal lives, that blossom but to die,— | |
| These, here disporting, own the kindred soil, | 15 |
| Nor ask luxuriance from the planter’s toil; | |
| While sea-born gales their gelid wings expand | |
| To winnow fragrance round the smiling land. | | | | |
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