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MEMORIALS OF A TOUR IN ITALY, 1837

XXVI. CONTINUED

MEMORIALS OF A TOUR IN ITALY, 1837


AS indignation mastered grief, my tongue Spake bitter words; words that did ill agree With those rich stores of Nature’s imagery, And divine Art, that fast to memory clung– Thy gifts, magnificent Region, ever young In the sun’s eye, and in his sister’s sight How beautiful! how worthy to be sung In strains of rapture, or subdued delight! I feign not; witness that unwelcome shock That followed the first sound of German speech, 10 Caught the far-winding barrier Alps among. In that announcement, greeting seemed to mock Parting; the casual word had power to reach My heart, and filled that heart with conflict strong.