Pagina 222 de 310

This opportunity, therefore, ought not to be allowed to pass for

letting Italy at last see her liberator appear. Nor can one

express the love with which he would be received in all those

provinces which have suffered so much from these foreign

scourings, with what thirst for revenge, with what stubborn

faith, with what devotion, with what tears. What door would be

closed to him? Who would refuse obedience to him? What envy would

hinder him? What Italian would refuse him homage? To all of us

this barbarous dominion stinks. Let, therefore, your illustrious

house take up this charge with that courage and hope with which

all just enterprises are undertaken, so that under its standard

our native country may be ennobled, and under its auspices may be

verified that saying of Petrarch:

Virtu contro al Furore Prendera l'arme, e fia il combatter corto:

Che l'antico valore Negli italici cuor non e ancor morto.