The congress of Vienna does not walk, but it dances.
—Prince de Ligne.
Charles Joseph, Prince de Ligne, a distinguished Belgian soldier and miscellaneous writer, was born at Brussels, May 12, 1735, and died December 13, 1814. He wrote: “Military, Literary and Sentimental Miscellanies,” “Life of Prince Eugene of Savoy,” etc.
Molto sa chi non sa, se tacer sa.[2]
“Gingillino,” Part II,—Giusti.
Giuseppi Giusti, a notable Italian poet and political satirist, was born in Monsummano, May 12, 1809, and died in Florence, March 31, 1850. His first masterpiece was the poem “Dies Iræ,” other pieces are: “The Boot,” “The Crowned,” “The Investiture of a Knight,” and the satires written from 1847 to 1849.
Each hour until we meet is as a bird
That wings from far his gradual way along
The rustling covert of my soul—his song
Still loudlier trilled through leaves more deeply stirr’d:
But at the hour of meeting, a clear word
Is every note he sings, in Love’s own tongue.
“Winged Hours,” Sonnet xv,—Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the renowned English painter and poet, was born in London, May 12, 1828, and died at Birchington, Kent, April 9, 1882. Among his poetical works are: “Blessed Damozel,” “Sister Helen,” “The White Ship,” “The House of Life,” “The King’s Tragedy,” “Hand and Soul,” and “Rose Mary.” Also: translations of “Early Italian Poets.”
To tremble, when I touch her hands,
With awe that no man understands;
To feel soft reverence arise
When, lover-sweet, I meet her eyes;
To see her beauty grow and shine
When most I feel this awe divine,—
Whate’er befall me, this is mine;
And whereabout the room she moves,
My spirit follows her, and loves.