Page:Carducci - Poems of Italy.djvu/44

 O Alban Moutains, sing ye smilingly The epithalamium; green Tusculum Sing thou; and sing, O fertile Tivoli!

Whilst I from the Janiculum look down With wonder on the city's pictured form— A mighty ship, launched toward the world's dominion.

O ship, whose poop rising on high attains The infinite, bear with thee on thy passage My soul unto the shores of mystery!

Let me, when fall those twilights radiant With the white jewels of the coming night, Quietly linger on the Flaminian Way;

Then may the hour supreme, in fleeing, brush With silent wing my forehead, while I pass Unknown through this serenity of peace,

Pass to the Councils of the Shades, and see Once more the lofty spirits of the Fathers Conversing there beside the sacred river. 38