Giosuè Carducci

“ Thou hast, O Garibaldi, at Mentana
On Peter and on Cæsar set thy foot.
O thou, of Aspromonté splendid rebel,
O glorious victor of Mentana thou,
Come then, and tell Palermo's tale and Rome's
Unto Camillus in the Capitol!"—
Thus a mysterious voice of spirits ran
Solemnly through the Italian sky that day
When all the vile lamented in their fright—
Curs that shrank cowering from the avenging lash.
Now, Italy adores thee. A new Rome
Is hailing thee her latest Romulus.
Thou dost ascend, divine one; round thy head
There cannot come the silences of death. ”

“ Refulgent art thou, by the ages called
Up to the lofty heights and councils pure
Of gods and heroes watching o'er our land.
Thou dost ascend. And Dante, looking, says
To Virgil: "Ne'er a nobler hero form
Did we conceive ... ”

“ Written probably on an anniversary of the battle of Mentana, which occurred on November 3d, 1867. "Peter and Cæsar," of course, represent church and empire leagued together against Italy, who is struggling to throw off the yoke of both. ”