SONGS OF TWO NATIONS     

  

       By Algernon Charles Swinburne     

  

  

 CONTENTS 

  

  DIRAE  

  A SONG OF ITALY  

  ODE ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC        

  DIRAE  

  

  

       DIRAE     

      I saw the double-featured statue stand Of Memnon or of Janus, half with night Veiled, and fast bound with iron; half with light Crowned, holding all men's future in his hand. And all the old westward face of time grown grey Was writ with cursing and inscribed for death; But on the face that met the mornings breath Fear died of hope as darkness dies of day. 

  

  

       A SONG OF ITALY     

      Inscribed With All Devotion and Reverence To:       JOSEPH MAZZINI 1867 

      Upon a windy night of stars that fell At the wind's spoken spell, Swept with sharp strokes of agonizing light From the clear gulf of night, Between the fixed and fallen glories one Against my vision shone, More fair and fearful and divine than they That measure night and day, And worthier worship; and within mine eyes     

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