| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | Where, Italy, ’s Thine Arm? | | By Vincenzo da Filicaja (1642–1707) |
| | Translated by Thomas Le Mesurier
WHERE, Italy, ’s thine arm? or why seek’st thou | |
| From others aid? Alike thy foe, if right | |
| I deem, who guards thee, or who dares to fight; | |
| Both once thy slaves, both would destroy thee now. | |
| Thus dost thou prize what yet the fates allow | 5 |
| Of empire, thus that fame which shone so bright? | |
| Thus to thine ancient worth, which erst could plight | |
| His troth to thee, preservest thou thy vow? | |
| Go, then; that ancient worth repudiate, take | |
| Sloth, and midst blood and groans and clamour dread, | 10 |
| Sleep on, nor in thine utmost danger wake. | |
| Sleep, vile adultress, till the murderous blade | |
| Vengeful shall on thine idle slumbers break, | |
| And pierce thee naked with thy minion laid. | | | | |
|
|
