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Tusiani/Alfieri 217
Future events another soon revealed;
Another then appealed,
That hate of kings should never be deferred;
One spoke of rules; one of the readiness
All leaders must possess;
Another yet then stressed the mighty word
Even by cowards heard,
Who’ve prodded thus to fight.
After she took such presents from them all,
To each of them the Goddess gave outright
The worth of him who checked fierce Hannibal.
VI
Oh, how she lifts her pinions for her flight,
Proud of her noble prey,
The Goddess on whose brow all rays abound!
She’s there already where she’ll ever stay,
Where in commingled might
Valor, and will, and innocence are found
Together with a sound
Wish to die countless times rather than once
To live and serve. The captain who appears
Greater than all his peers
(Though he most humbly every honor shuns,
And a modest mantle dons)
Receives a manifold
Gift: several captains he at once is worth,
Concordant all of them yet singly bold.
Surrender all, you men of British birth!
VII
Because of greater number, you—I see
Once more presumption drives.
To what avail if, in his camp enclosed,
He only thinks of saving human lives
(Ilis men), and bloodlessly
Can therefore reap the laurel that shines most,
Till, at dawn’s light disclosed,
Seeing your blood, he signals the attack?
Entrenched for years, and willing yet to die,
That hero’s forced to lie
To save his country, which will nothing lack,
On its most glorious track,
With arms and men like these.
O purposeful delay! Now, finally,