Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Italy: Vols. XI–XIII. 1876–79. | | | | Rome | | To Rome | | Vittorio Alfieri (1749–1803) |
| | Translated by Capel Lofft
UNHEALTHY land! that call’st thyself a state; | |
| Void, desolate! Plains barren and untilled! | |
| Mute spectres of a race; whose looks are filled | |
| With guilt, base fears, fierce and ensanguined hate! | |
| A Senate, nor to act nor to debate, | 5 |
| Vile paltry craft in splendid purple veiled! | |
| Patricians of a folly less concealed | |
| Than their vain wealth! a Prince, imagined great; | |
| By superstition hallowed! City proud | |
| Who hast no citizens! Temples august, | 10 |
| Without religion! Laws corrupt, unjust, | |
| From age to age proceeding still to worse. | |
| Keys (as thou saidst) to which Heaven’s portals bowed | |
| For impious men—Ah, Rome, the seat of every curse. | | | | |
|
|
