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Succumbs to long infection, and despair, And vulture passions flying close behind, Await the moment to assail and tear;

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And when at length the winged wanderers stoop,
Then is the prey-bird's triumph, then they share
The spoil, o'erpower'd at length by one fell swoop.
Yet some have been untouch'd, who learn'd to bear,
Some whom no power could ever force to droop,
Who could resist themselves even, hardest care!
And task most hopeless; but some such have been,
And if my name amongst the number were,
That destiny austere, and yet serene,

Were prouder than more dazzling fame unblest;
The Alp's snow summit nearer heaven is seen
Than the volcano's fierce eruptive crest,

Whose splendour from the black abyss is flung,

While the scorch'd mountain, from whose burning breast A temporary torturing flame is wrung,

Shines for a night of terror, then repels

Its fire back to the hell from whence it The hell which in its entrails ever dwells.

sprung,

3

VOL. VII.

NOTES TO CANTO III.

Note 1, page 29, line 2.

Conquerors on foreign shores, and the far wave, etc.

Alexander of Parma, Spinola, Pescara, Eugene of Savoy, Monte

cucco.

Note 2, page 29, line 3.

Discoverers of new worlds, which take their name; etc. Columbus, Americus Vespusius, Sebastian Cabot.

Note 3, page 30, line 4.

He who once enters in a tyrant's hall etc.

A verse from the Greek tragedians, with which Pompey took leave of Cornelia, on entering the boat in which he was slain.

Note 4, page 30, line 6.

And the first day which sees the chain inthral etc.

The verse and sentiment are taken from Homer.

Note 5, page 30, line 24.

And he, their prince, shall rank among my peers, etc.
Petrarch.

THE

PROPHECY OF DANTE.

CANTO IV.

MANY are poets who have never penn'd

Their inspiration, and perchance the best:

They felt, and loved, and died, but would not lend
Their thoughts to meaner beings; they compress'd
The god within them, and rejoin'd the stars
Unlaurell'd upon earth, but far more blest
Than those who are degraded by the jars

Of passion, and their frailties link'd to fame,
Conquerors of high renown, but full of scars.
Many are poets but without the name,
For what is poesy but to create

From overfeeling good or ill; and aim

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