Saverio Bettinelli (1718–1808)

Translated by James Montgomery

WITH talons terrible, for slaughter spread,

On wings that made a tempest of their way,

Down darting from the Alps, by vengeance led,

The Hungarian falcon pounced upon his prey;

From wrath and rapine, trembling with dismay,

The Italian doves before the Spoiler sped,

And wide o’er vale and mountain driven astray,

Far from their ravaged homes for ever fled.

Then found the wiser halcyons’ lovely brood,

(Scared from their country, ruined and oppressed,)

A safe asylum on the rolling flood;

By worth upheld, by liberty caressed;

’Mid thrones in ashes, cities sunk in blood,

Ages on ages past,—behold the beauteous nest.