Stood in that hedge of war; but the aliens, the sons of adoption,
Loyal to death to the land of their love, as a mystical Mother,
Virgin, glorious, mild, immortal, a presence to die for!
There in the line of defence was the flag Garibaldi once planted
Proud on the ramparts of Rome; and the bright-green beautiful banner,
Banner of glory and grief, that has blown in the breezes of battle
Over all fields of the world, to beckon high hearts to the onset;
Yet was uplifted supreme the Flag of the hope of the future,
Set with the splendors of stars, and striped with the heart’s-blood of heroes.
So they lay in the line, with the hard hands clutching the muskets: