And from the road the conqueror made,
We looked back o’er the land he swayed;
Land deemed an empire’s dearest gem,
Till sank into her wearer’s soul
The iron of her diadem;
Once could she heroes’ names unroll,
And now she yields all saving them!
Seeming near tho’ far away,
Stretched at our feet Italia lay,
As we the fathom line might throw,