| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | The Italian People | | By Gabriello Chiabrera (1552–1638) |
| | Translated by Sir Aubrey de Vere
WHEN Italy’s proud heart imposed the yoke | |
| On the barbaric crew, and in the throng | |
| Of her pale slaves led captive kings along, | |
| Triumphantly, to the old Tarpeian rock; | |
| Not then her warriors girt them for the shock | 5 |
| Of arms to cadence of Idalian song; | |
| But with a martial zeal; while deep and strong | |
| O’er their fierce souls the tide of vengeance broke. | |
| Lo! through the whirlwind, ’neath the lightning’s glance, | |
| Their thirsty spears, their iron limbs advance, | 10 |
| Making earth terrible! We, day by day, | |
| To dalliance, and sweet sound, and idle dance, | |
| Contented give our dastard souls away; | |
| Prize of triumphant Force, each robber-despot’s prey! | | | | |
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