Italia

Oscar Wilde

          ITALIA! thou art fallen, though with sheen
            Of battle-spears thy clamorous armies stride
            From the north Alps to the Sicilian tide!
          Ay! fallen, though the nations hail thee Queen
          Because rich gold in every town is seen,
            And on thy sapphire lake in tossing pride
            Of wind-filled vans thy myriad galleys ride
          Beneath one flag of red and white and green.
          O Fair and Strong! O Strong and Fair in vain!
            Look southward where Rome's desecrated town               10
            Lies mourning for her God-anointed King!
          Look heaven-ward! shall God allow this thing?
            Nay! but some flame-girt Raphael shall come down,
            And smite the Spoiler with the sword of pain.

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