The Sonnets Of Tommaso Campanella - To Genoa.

Le Ninfe d'Arno.


The nymphs of Arno; Adria's goddess-queen;
        Greece, where the Latin banner floated free;
        The lands that border on the Syrian sea;
        The Euxine, and fair Naples; these have been
Thine, by the right of conquest; these should be
        Still thine by empire: Asia's broad demesne,
        Afric, America--realms never seen
        But by thy venture--all belong to thee.
But thou, thyself not knowing, leavest all
        For a poor price to strangers; since thy head
        Is weak, albeit thy limbs are stout and good.
Genoa, mistress of the world, recall
        Thy soul magnanimous! Nay, be not led
        Slave to base gold, thou and thy tameless brood!