Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes. Italy: Vols. XIXIII. 187679. | | Introductory | Italy | Oliver Goldsmith (17301774) |
| FAR to the right, where Apennine ascends, | |
Bright as the summer Italy extends. | |
Its uplands sloping deck the mountains side, | |
Woods over woods in gay theatric pride; | |
While oft some temples mouldering tops between | 5 |
With venerable grandeur mark the scene. | |
Could natures 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 planters toil; | |
While sea-born gales their gelid wings expand | |
To winnow fragrance round the smiling land. | | | |
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