Italian Fantasies

Italian Fantasies

I too have crossed the Alps, and Hannibal himself had no such baggage of dreams and memories, such fife-and-drum of lyrics, such horns of ivory, such emblazoned standards and streamered gonfalons, flying and fluttering, such phalanxes of heroes, such visions of cities to spoil and riches to riflepalace and temple, bust and picture, tapestry and mosaic. My elephants too matched his; my herds of medival histories, grotesque as his gargoyled beasts. Nor without fire and vinegar have I pierced my passage to these green pastures. Ave Italia, regina terrarum! I cried, as I kissed the hem of thy blue robe, starred with white cities. There are who approach Italy by other portals, but these be the true gates of heaven, these purple peaks snow-flashing as they touch the stainless sky; scarred and riven with ancient fires, and young with jets of living water. Natures greatness prepares the heart for mans glory. I too have crossed the Rubicon, and Csar gathered no such booty. Gold and marble and sardonyx, lapis-lazuli, agate and alabaster, porphyry, jasper and bronze, these were the least of my spoils. I plucked at the mystery of the storied land and fulfilled my eyes of its loveliness and colour. I have seen the radiant raggedness of Naples as I squeezed in the squirming, wriggling ant-heap; at Paestum I have companied the lizard in the forsaken Temple of Poseidon. (O the soaring Pagan pillars, divinely Doric!) I have stood by the Leaning Tower in Bologna that gave a simile to Dante; and by the long low wall of Paduas university, whence Portia borrowed her learned plumes, I have stayed to scan a placarded sonnet to a Doctor of Philology; I have walked along that delectable Riviera di Levante and left a footprint on those wind-swept sands where Shelleys mortal elements found their fit resolution in flame. I have lain under Boccaccios olives, and caressed with my eye the curve of the distant Duomo and the winding silver of the Arno. Florence has shown me supreme earth-beauty, Venice supreme water-beauty, and I have worshipped Capri and Amalfi, offspring of the love-marriage of earth and water. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 56264
Author: Zangwill, Israel
Release Date: Dec 28, 2017
Format: eBook
Language: English