Classic Poem

(20 TH N OVEMBER 1878)

Whence camest thou? What age left us heir
To thee so gentle and so fair?
My Queen, what songs of sacred poets
Have I once read and beheld thee there?

In castles, where the Northern race,
Blue-eyed, fair-haired, grew brown of face
'Neath Latin suns, and knightly minstrels
In new verse strove for their ladies' grace?

When high-born maidens paled with fear
The rhythmic monotone to hear,
And turned dark, tearful eyes to Heaven,
And prayed, " Be not with their sin severe."

Or saw I thee in those brief days
When Italy was fair with May's
Own loveliness, when all the nation
Awoke engentled? And in Love's praise.

Embattled house and street shone bright
With flowers and marble and sunlight,
And Dante sang: " O cloudlet smiling,
The while Love veileth thee from my sight!"

As in young April's sky doth glow
The star of Venus and below
Stretch Alpine heights, her mild beams striking
A golden glory across the snow,

Smiling on huts where poor men dwell,
Smiling on fertile vale and fell,
And in the poplar shade awaking
The nightingales of their love to tell:

So dost thou flash forth, far descried,
Fair, diamond-crowned; and filled with pride
In thee, the people all acclaim thee
As men rejoice in a maiden bride.

Young girls that gaze at thee with sweet,
Half-tearful smile, as if to greet
An elder sister, stretch forth shyly
Their arms and cry to thee: " Marguerite."

To thee th' Alcaic verse, free born
'Mid civic strife, and taught to scorn
All tyrants, flies, and thrice encircles
Thy hair with wings, that no storms have torn,

And sings: " Long live thou, O renowned
Fair Lady, whom the Graces crowned,
In whose soft voice all tones of tender
And loving sympathy sweetly sound.

" Live long as flit o'er Italy
Shapes limned against the evening sky
By Raphael, long as 'mid the laurels
The sweet canzoni of Petrarch sigh."