Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Italy: Vols. XI–XIII. 1876–79. | | | | Venice | | Venice | | James Thomson (1834–1882) |
| | (From Liberty)
NOR be the then triumphant state forgot; | |
| Where, pushed from plundered earth, a remnant still | |
| Inspired by me, through the dark ages kept | |
| Of my old Roman flame some sparks alive: | |
| The seeming god-built city! which my hand | 5 |
| Deep in the bosom fixed of wondering seas. | |
| Astonished mortals sailed, with pleasing awe, | |
| Around the sea-girt walls by Neptune fenced, | |
| And down the briny street; where on each hand, | |
| Amazing seen amid unstable waves, | 10 |
| The splendid palace shines; and rising tides, | |
| The green steps marking, murmur at the door. | |
| To this fair queen of Adria’s stormy gulf, | |
| The mart of nations! long, obedient seas | |
| Rolled all the treasure of the radiant East. | 15 |
| But now no more. Than one great tyrant worse | |
| (Whose shared oppression lightens, as diffused), | |
| Each subject tearing, many tyrants rose. | |
| The least the proudest. Joined in dark cabal, | |
| They jealous, watchful, silent, and severe, | 20 |
| Cast o’er the whole indissoluble chains; | |
| The softer shackles of luxurious ease | |
| They likewise added, to secure their sway. | |
| Thus Venice fainter shines; and Commerce thus, | |
| Of toil impatient, flags the drooping sail. | 25 | | | |
|
|
