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A treasury of war poetry, British and American poems of the world war, 1914-1919/To Italy

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For works with similar titles, see To Italy.
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Italy in Arms
A treasury of war poetry, British and American poems of the world war, 1914-1919
edited by George Herbert Clarke
To Italy by Moray Dalton
On the Italian Front, MCMXVI
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TO ITALY

THOU art the world's desired, the golden fleece
Of Time's adventurers faring down to Hell,
But Helen's self dwelt not so far from peace
Nor so beset since lofty Ilium fell.
Tyrants would pluck thee as men pluck a rose,
Carthage and Greece, the Vandal and the Goth:
Now more are added to thy many foes
From East and West, ay, thou hast suffered both.


Greece was enslaved, and Carthage is but dust,
But thou art living, maugre all thy scars,
To bear fresh wounds of rapine and of lust,
Immortal victim of unnumbered wars.
Nor shalt thou cease until we cease to be
Whose hearts are thine, belovèd Italy.

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