Page:The Oxford book of Italian verse.djvu/34

INTRODUCTION At the present time, Italian poetry, like that of other European nations, seems, to the doubtful eye of a contemporary, to have called a halt in its progress. Optimists, however, who believe that the art will survive even the rivalry of science and the popular novel, will look with confidence towards Italy—the most beautiful and in a sense the youngest of our neighbours, but one which is dowered with the most ancient and glorious tradition. ST. JOHN LUCAS.

, February, 1910. 34