E gli dirò che il bianco, il verde, il rosso,
Vuol dir che Italia il duro giogo ha scosso.
E gli dirò che il rosso, il bianco, il verde
E un terno che si giuoca e non si perde."
Of which the following rough version may serve to give a sufficiently-accurate idea of the meaning, for the benefit of your "country gentlemen" readers:
"And I'll tell him the green, and the red, and the white
Would look well by his side as a sword-knot so bright.
And I'll tell him the white, and the green, and the red
Mean, our country has flung the vile yoke from her head.
And I'll tell him the red, and the white, and the green