Classic Poem

On the Proposed Presentation of Guns by the People of Britain to the King of Sardinia, in Aid of Italian Liberty

ON THE PROPOSED PRESENTATION OF GUNS BY THE PEOPLE OF BRITAIN TO THE KING OF SARDINIA, IN AID OF

No gold — no jewels bright,
We offer at the shrine
Where Italy adores the light
Of liberty divine
A sterner gift we bring —
Ye frowning tubes of death
Your bolts of vengeance wing,
Till tyrants quail beneath

From fort — from " deadly breach "
Pour from your sulph'rous throats,
As far as sound can reach,
In loud prophetic notes,
A voice whose thunder tones
Shall Europe's despots wake,
And on their crumbling thrones
In craven terror shake.

Victor Emmanuel! — name
Of augury divine —
Thee victor we proclaim!
For Freedom's cause is thine
" Emmanuel — God with us " —
Of old was Piedmont's cry —
Emmanuel, ever thus
Be God to aid thee nigh!English