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Tusiani/Alfieri 205
A most propitious star?
To found their freedom, with much blood they fought,
And, having founded it, now here they are,
Ready to die—so liberty may not.”
V
Not so, poor fool! If wholly steeped in rotten
Desire of gain, how will.
These men, who for themselves cannot be bold,
Deaf now no more, heed
Glory’s signal still? Fully they have forgotten
Valor and poverty: sword into gold,
And laurel into mold,
Unvanquished captains into lords of sloth,
And union and harmonious directive
Turned into ineffective
And wicked discord that erases both
Peace and war. Oh, vain growth
Of all your hope! Will they,
Who cannot save themselves, shield others though?
So can those vessels speeding fast your way
Be coming from the sick Batavus? No!
VI
Who are they then? From the Iberian shore
Those ships are probably.
But no! Did slavish nations ever bring
Succor to valor and to liberty?
These barren fields are sore
From all the wounds of many an iron ring;
And let this once fair thing
This land now uninhabited as sand
Bear witness if the Ebro can bring here
Other than death or fear.
Those who are sweating still to reach this land
Are not a savage band,
Though partially still bound.
By royal fetters: to blind servitude
True worth they add, for, if they hear a sound
Of war, their pristine flame is soon renewed.
VII
Must we believe it? Is it true a King
Now cares to make us free
That king who landed chains not long ago