Page:Songs before sunrise (IA beforesunrisongs00swinrich).pdf/215

 O mother of all men's dear delight, Thou madest a choral-souled boy-priest, Before my lips had leave to sing, Or my hands hardly strength to cling About the intolerable tree Whereto they had nailed my heart and thee And said, "Let be."

For to thee too the high Fates gave Grace to be sacrificed and save, That being arisen, in the equal sun, God and the People should be one; By those red roads thy footprints trod, Man more divine, more human God, Saviour; that where no light was known But darkness, and a daytime flown, Light should be shown.

Let there be light, O Italy! For our feet falter in the night. O lamp of living years to be, O light of God, let there be light! Fill with a love keener than flame Men sealed in spirit with thy name, The cities and the Roman skies,