Thou shalt be, Lord!—For ever changeless found!
These planets quenched, these river murmurs checked,
These crumbled mountains, worlds in ruin wrecked,
These ages whelmed in Time’s immensity,
Even time and space, annihilate in Thee,
Nature, who mocks at works her hand did raise,
All—all are fleeting tributes to Thy praise;
And each existence here to death betrayed
Thy Being hymns, which knows nor change nor shade.
Oh, Italy! thy hills of beauty weep,