Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1841 edition. Excerpt: ...pity which once made Thee share Our mortal tenement, again expand In blessings on thy own--thy chcrish'd land. Bchold, oh Father! from how light a thing This warfare long and direful doth spring: Oh! where relentless Mars hath steel'd the heart, Do thou thy soothing influence impart, Awake its kindlier flow; tho' humble, still Make me thy instrument to speak thy will. 6. E 'I Po, dove doglioso, tif-c. fyc. Petrarch was then resident in Parma. 11. Di che lievi cagion. He dates the faction of the Gnelphs and Ghibelines as the origin of Italy's calamities. ' 1. Voi. Parla ai Signori d'Italia. 4. Pellegrine spade. Dei Tedeschi. 24. Fere selvagge. Tedeschi.--Mansuete gregge. Italiani. Oh ye by natare destin'd to command, To guide the reins of this your beauteous land, Sweet pity's tie ne'er binds ye to its love, Else why the strangers' weapon should it prove? Oh! wherefore doth barbarian blood deface Your smiling meadows, and your country's grace? Your hearts in vain delusion are enshrin'd, Ye boast your foresight--and alas! are blind. Whoe'er would seek for love, or faith behold, Amid a venal crew, exchang'd for gold? He 'mid his ranks the greater number knows Stands but the more encompass'd by his foes. Oh frightful torrent! borne from foreign strands To inundate our sweet, our verdant lands; If we ourselves have wak'd its direful flow, Where should we seek for comfort in our woe? When nature bade the towering Alps arise, To stand our barrier 'twixt the German skies, Oh! well our future safety she foresaw To shield us from our neighbour's furious war. But ye! your blind desires have arm'd the foe To turn health's current to the leper's woe. Alike enclos'd within one common fold The tameless beast and lamb we now behold, I...."
