Journal of Italian Translation

Joseph Tusiani/Ugo Foscolo
such harmonies shall reach you from above
as will, prolonged by you, give more delight
to man’s brief life created but to fret,
thus making it more heedful of the arts
and less afraid of all-possessing death.
Let the Elysian Fields—should there be need—
be your sole friendly haven; ever smile
on bards whose laurel wreaths are purely earned,
on freedom-minded princes, on young mothers
who do not yield their babes to alien breasts,
on naive maidens innocently thrust
by hidden love on an untimely pyre;
and smile on youngsters fallen for their land.
Be beautiful, and live for evermore!”
She spoke no longer, but her radiant eyes
scattered upon her daughters then and there
the deathless glimmer of the new-born Dawn
before she fled. In tears they watched her go,
and as from high above at them she waved
they heard this final message: “From the Fates
new grief and endless triumph you will have.”
She vanished; flying through the first two heavens,
she reached the crowning light of her own star.
Harmony heard her come and with her joy
moved the entire universe to song,
for every time sweet Venus shares the bliss
of her abode again, dear Harmony
along the starry ways applauds the one
whose tender sovereignty reshaped the world.
As a young lonesome maiden in her room,
watching ecstatic in the spotless sky
the splendent Moon and every silent star,
feels the inspiring Deity and sits
down at her harpsichord which, in her new
excitement, with her feet and hands and eyes
she fast attunes to the awaiting note;
but, if deep in her heart Love comes to rouse
remembrances of joy, her fingers run
less rapid on the keyboard, causing soon
the tender melody that lies concealed
right at the vocal bottom of the wood
to wander slow and feeble in the air:
so did the mystic harmony descend
from Heaven.......................................
Keenly the Graces heard, and in their hearts
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