THE SWORD OF CASTRUCCIO CASTRUCANI.

Gave the green forest-walk on the wall,
With the Appenine blue through the trees
Gave palaces, churches, and all

The great pictures which burn out of these.
But the eyes of the king seemed to freeze,
As he glanced upon ceiling and wall.

"Good!" said the king as he past.

Was he cold to the arts? or else coy To possession?-or crossed at the last, Whispered some, by the vote in Savoy? Shout! Love him enough for his joy! "Good!" said the king as he past.

He, travelling the whole day through flowers
And protesting amenities, found

At Pistoia, betwixt the two showers

Of red roses, "the Orphans" (renowned
As the heirs of Puccini), who wound

With a sword through the crowd and the flowers.

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"T is the sword of Castruccio, O king!

In old strife of intestinal hate
Very famous. Accept what we bring -
We, who cannot be sons by our fate,
Rendered citizens by thee of late,
And endowed with a country and king.

"Read: Puccini has willed that this sword

(Which once made, in an ignorant feud, Many orphans) remain in our ward

Then the king exclaimed. This is for me
And be dashed out his sword on the hilt,
While his blue eye shot fire openly
еде
And his heart overboiled till it spilt.
A hot prayer - God, the rest as thou wilt!
But grant me this - this is for

8

me

O Victor Emmanuel the King,

The sword be for thee, and the deed, And nought for the alien, next spring, rought for Hapsburg and Bourbout agreed s But for us, a great Italy freed, with a hero to head us... our King!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning,

Qu: "hand"?

as in two later editions. JWP

"She says, The dawn grows bright;
He says, O no, my Light!