LINES ON THE ENTRY OF THE AUSTRIANS INTO NAPLES, 1821. Carbone notati. Ay-down to the dust with them, slaves as they are, From this hour, let the blood in their dastardly veins, That shrunk at the first touch of Liberty's war, On, on like a cloud, through their beautiful vales, Ye locusts of tyranny, blasting them o'er Fill, fill up their wide sunny waters, ye sails From each slave-mart of Europe, and shadow their shore ! Let their fate be a mock-word-let men of all lands Laugh out, with a scorn that shall ring to the poles, When each sword, that the cowards let fall from their hands, Shall be forg'd into fetters to enter their souls. And deep, and more deep, as the iron is driv'n, To think. -as the Doom'd often think of that heav'n have been free. -h's heart, Oh shame! when there was not a bosom, whose heat When the world stood in hope- when a spirit, that breath'd The fresh air of the olden time, whisper'd about; And the swords of all Italy, half-way unsheath'd, But waited one conquering cry, to flash out! When around you the shades of your Mighty in fame, FILICAJAS and PETRARCHS, seemed bursting to And their words, and their warnings, like tongues of bright flame Over Freedom's apostles, fell kindling on you! Oh shame! that, in such a proud moment of life, Worth the hist'ry of ages, when, had you but hurl'd One bolt at your tyrant invader, that strife Between freemen and tyrants had spread through the world That then-oh! disgrace upon manhood-evʼn then, You should falter, should cling to your pitiful breath; Cow'r down into beasts, when you might have stood men, And prefer the slave's life of prostration to death. It is strange, it is dreadful:-shout, Tyranny, shout Through your dungeons and palaces, "Freedom is o'er;" If there lingers one spark of her light, tread it out, And return to your empire of darkness once more. |