Rise, Romans, rise at last,
Craft's kingdom now is past;
Brook no delay!
Lombard blades long ago,
Swifter than whirlwinds blow,
Swept from Milan the foe:
Why should we stay?
Rise, then, for fatherland;
In rock-like phalanx stand,
Cowards no more.
Rise in colossal might,
Rise till the storm of fight
Wrap us in lurid light
Where cannons roar!
In this great dawn of time,
In this great death of crime,
Quit us like men;
By our deeds, by our words,
By our songs, by our swords--
Use all against the hordes,
Sabre or pen!
More than fame, duty calls,
Trumpet-tongued from the walls
Girding great Rome;
Battle for truth and faith,
Battle lest hostile scathe
Crush us, or fetters swathe
Free hearth and home!
Hark! how God's thunders roll,
Booming from pole to pole
Of the wide world!
"Old lies are crush'd for aye,
Now truths assume their sway,
Bright shines the flag of day
O'er night unfurl'd!"
Tower, then, the barricades!
Flash forth the lightning blades!
Romans, awake!
Storm as the tempests burst,
Down with the brood accursed!
Sparks long in silence nursed
Etna-like break;
And that volcano's thirst
Seas cannot slake!