branch of the house of Savoy.  His having played with the patriot in his youth, as the poem says, is quite possible, for Charles was brought up as a simple citizen in a public school, and one of his chief friends was Alberta Nota, a writer of liberal principles, whom he made his secretary.  As indicated in the poem, Charles at first declared himself in sympathy, though in a somewhat lukewarm manner, with the rising led by Santa Rosa against Austrian domination in 1823, and upon the abdication of Victor Emanuel he became regent of Turin.  But when the king Charles Felix issued a denunciation against the new government, Charles Albert succumbed to the king’s threats and left his friends in the lurch.  Later the Austrians marched into the country, Santa Rosa was forced to retreat from Turin, and, with his friends, he who might well have been the very patriot of the poem was obliged to fly from Italy.

19.  Metternich:  the distinguished Austrian diplomatist and determined enemy of Italian independence.

76.  Tenebrae:  darkness.  “The office of matins and lauds, for the three last days in Holy Week.  Fifteen lighted candles are placed on a triangular stand, and at the conclusion of each psalm one is put out till a single candle is left at the top of the triangle.  The extinction of the other candles is said to figure the growing darkness of the world at the time of the Crucifixion.  The last candle (which is not extinguished, but hidden behind the altar for a few moments) represents Christ, over whom Death could not prevail.’’ (Dr. Berdoe)

IN A GONDOLA

He sings.

I send my heart up to thee, all my heart
        In this my singing. 
For the stars help me, and the sea bears part;
        The very night is clinging
Closer to Venice’ streets to leave one space
        Above me, whence thy face
May light my joyous heart to thee its dwelling-place.

She speaks.

Say after me, and try to say
My very words, as if each word
Came from you of your own accord, 10
In your own voice, in your own way: 
“This woman’s heart and soul and brain
Are mine as much as this gold chain
She bids me wear, which (say again)
I choose to make by cherishing
A precious thing, or choose to fling
Over the boat-side, ring by ring.” 
And yet once more say . . . no word more! 
Since words are only words.  Give o’er!

Unless you call me, all the same, 20
Familiarly by my pet name,
Which if the Three should hear you call,
And me reply to, would proclaim
At once our secret to them all. 
Ask of me, too, command me, blame—­
Do, break down the partition-wall
’Twixt us, the daylight world beholds
Curtained in dusk and splendid folds! 
What’s left but—­all of me to take? 
I am the Three’s:  prevent them, slake 30
Your thirst!  ’Tis said, the Arab sage,
In practising with gems, can loose
Their subtle spirit in his cruce
And leave but ashes:  so, sweet mage,
Leave them my ashes when thy use
Sucks out my soul, thy heritage!