134 ILLUMINATIONS OF ST. PETER'S. THE SAME. TRANSLATED BY C. J. M'C. TEMPIO ! che 'l ciel con quest' angusto mondo Dì quai bellezze nuove il viso inondo Quei tratti già da fermo sasso uniti, II. SECOND ILLUMINATION. My heart was resting with a peaceful gaze, The molten stars before a withering blaze Stunned by the splendour, saw against the sky Nothing but light,—sheer light,—and light's own haze. From the black vault by unseen Power let down, : Cities of men, Queens of the Earth! bow low,-was ever brow III. REFLECTION. PAST is the first dear phantom of our sight, All souls from out this world of fault and flaw, Merged in deep fire ;-our joy is turned to awe, The self-same Sun that calls the flowers from earth The nobler Spirit to whom much is given THE FIREWORKS FROM THE CASTLE OF ST. ANGELO. PLAY on, play on, I share your gorgeous glee, My heart leaps up and falls in unison. The Tower round which ye weave, with elfin grace, The modulations of your burning dance, Looks through your gambols with a grandsire's face, A grave but not reproachful countenance; Ye are the children of a festive night, He is the mate of many an hundred years,— He is the comrade of their crimes and tears,- ON THE MARRIAGE OF THE LADY GWENDOLIN TALBOT WITH THE ELDEST SON OF THE PRINCE BORGHESE. LADY! to decorate thy marriage-morn, Rare gems, and flowers, and lofty songs are brought; The name, into whose splendour thou wert born, Rome, May 11th, 1835. *St. Peter's. ON THE DEATH OF THE PRINCESS BORGHESE, AT ROME, NOVEMBER, 1840. ONCE, and but once again I dare to raise A voice which thou in spirit still may'st hear, Now that thou canst not blush at thine own praise! And thus we ask, with a convulsive tear, Why has it blest the south but these few days? Than that which hailed thee as a princely bride, Like some lone column of his native Rome! * S. Maria Maggiore, where the Borghese family are interred. |