English poem
Voice Of The Priests
by Giosuè Carducci (1835–1907)
O school of vileness, treachery and lying, “Asylum of the oppressed,” in evil days Sounding to heaven the cruel oppressor's praise, While God and King and Fatherland denying!
O wicked was your heartless justifying, Your benediction on the torturer's blaze, Your curses on the doomed who dared to raise A voice against thy tyranny outcrying.
Ready the Empire's brutal force to crave, Thou smil'st upon its prize unjustly won; God's prophet is become a lying knave. O saddest day the sun e'er shone upon When cowers the Cross, the standard of the slave, And Christ is made the tyrant's champion!
JUVENILIA.