Page:Felicia Hemans in The New Monthly Magazine Volume 40 1834.pdf/34



Oh! blessed once, and loveliest land of all! Thou whom the rocks gird in, the waves enshrine! Bright region! mantled as for festival, And proudly belted by the Apennine!

What now avails that sons of mighty line Left thee the crown of Sea and Earth to wear? They that were once thy slaves now rudely twine Their hostile hands in thy dishevelled hair.

Alas! nor want there of thy children's band Those that call in the stranger to the land, And with unfilial sword thy charms deface! Are these, like deeds of olden time, thy pride? Thus, thus is God now served and glorified?— Oh, bitter age! and oh, degenerate race!