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Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Italy: Vols. XI–XIII. 1876–79.

Venice

Venice

By Jacopo Sannazzaro (1458–1530)

Translated by Joseph Addison

VENETIA stands with endless beauties crowned,

And as a world within herself is found.

Hail, queen of Italy! for years to come

The mighty rival of immortal Rome!

Nations and seas are in thy states enrolled,

And kings among thy citizens are told.

Ausonia’s brightest ornament! by thee

She sits a sovereign, unenslaved and free;

By thee, the rude barbarian chased away,

The rising sun cheers with a purer ray

Our western world, and doubly gilds the day.