Page:Keepsake 1836.pdf/4

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The sunny town of Naples, The far and shining sea, Re-echoed to the thousands Who shouted, "We are free!" The tale of those bold fishermen, Is writ in blood and tears; True freedom asks the labour And care of many years. But slavery's strong foundations, In such hours are o’erthrown; In doubt, turmoil, and danger, The glorious seed is sown.

The basis of this poem is Auber’s Opera in which Fenella is a non-singing role performed by a dancer with extensive use of mime. This character was derived from the Fenella in Scott’s ‘Peveril of the Peak’, who in this case is a dwarf feigning to be deaf and dumb. Note the spelling ‘atchieved’ in line 28.