Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/453

Rh prince and his people, the bravery of which he had seen proofs during the campaign. He was afraid of driving them to extremity; besides which, he was obliged to turn his forces towards Venice, where now the heroic Manin had excited the people to fight for freedom. Radetzky's moderation and mildness prevented, also, here, affairs coming to extremes; and by this means, Venice was preserved to Austria for the present.

And thus Italy had again peace,—a peace which gave life to Piedmont; to all the rest death!—But no! “Christian nations may sink, but not die!” Italy is not dead, it only sleeps the sleep of the trance, of weariness, and becomes more mature, the while, for a new awakening. It is impossible to doubt this, especially here, and in this time, when, in Piedmont, every thing breathes the life of the new day, and every thing is prepared to impart it, but in a manner different to its former one, and with a higher consciousness of freedom and right.

The noblest citizens and friends of Italy are united in this,—to attribute to the Italians themselves, rather than to foreign arms, the unfortunate results which followed the struggle for freedom in 1848. Want of unity, contentions between the states about trifles, about rank, about the capital, language, and so on, when they ought to have united themselves against the common enemy. The endeavors of foolish tribunes of the people to inflame the passions; weakness and fickleness in many leaders; treachery in some;—these opened Italy to the troops of the enemy, Many of Italy's noblest sons died for grief over the