Page:Carducci - Poems of Italy.djvu/37

 Ah, how all nature smiled on that fair morn Of April when, his lovely dame beside, Forth came the fair-haired Emperor, to sail For distant shores.

Upon his placid countenance there beamed The manly strength of one to empire called; The blue eyes of his lady wandered proud Over the sea.

Farewell, O castle of the happy days, Vainly constructed as a nest for love! An alien zephyr toward the desert ocean Bears off the twain.

With kindled hopes, they leave the halls adorned With chiselled wisdom and triumphal story; Dante and Goethe to the castle's lord Make vain appeal.

A sphinx of changeful aspect lures him on To follow in her path across the sea. He yields, and half-way open leaves the book Of old romance. 31