MENTANA.
LION-HEARTS of young Italy !
Field where none died in vain ! Beardless boys and famine-gaunt Corpses along the plain, — Did not enough of ye die On the field where none died in vain, Lion-hearts of young Italy ?
Field where death was victory, Blood that gush'd not in vain When the deadly rifle of France Pour'd its floods of iron rain ; 'death the pine-dotted slopes of Tivoli The triumph is with the slain, Lion-hearts of young Italy !
Noble error, if error, To make their fatherland one !- Through her-five-and-twenty centuries Rome counts no worthier son, Than he who led them to die Where death and triumph were one,- Lion-hearts of young Italy !
For the blood of Mentana To the blood of Thermopylae calls, And the blood of Marathon answers, Not in vain, not in vain he falls Who stakes his life on the die When the voice of Freedom calls, Liou-hearts of young Italy !
Passionate instinct for truth, Children and heroes in one, Reason higher than reason, Light from beyond the sun :- Did not enough of ye die To bind your country in one, Lion-hearts of young Italy ? Pity not them as they lie Crown'd with the fortunate dead;
Pity not them, but the foe,—
For the precious drops that they shed Sow but the seed of victory ! Pity the foe, not the dead, Lion-hearts of young Italy !
Yours, to be martyrs of God, Yours, for your country to die, Yours, to be Men of Menton; Highly esteem'd mong the high :- Theirs, to look on at your victory !
For did not enough of ye die, Lion-hearts of young Italy ?
Brief the day of November, Long to the remnant that fought ; Boys too young for the battle, Naked and hunger-distraught:- No, not too young to die, Falling where each one fought, Lion-hearts of young Italy ! F. T. P.
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