At the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, Lombardy and Venetia were assigned
to Austria. Most of the inhabitants submitted to the foreign rule, but
there were always small bands of patriots who stirred up revolutions
against Austria. The chief revolution was that led by Mazzini in 1848,
and when he was in exile he read this poem with much appreciation. In
_Pippa Passes_ (1840), in the story of Luigi and the Austrian police,
Browning had already given a picture based on Italy's struggle for
freedom. In 1844 he visited Italy and then wrote "The Italian in
England," which appeared in 1845. This poem does not represent a
definite historic incident, but such a one as might have occurred in the
life of some Italian patriot. For a similar feeling towards Italian
independence see Mrs. Browning's _Casa Guidi Windows_ (written
1848-1851). For earlier poems see Byron's "Ode" beginning "O Venice,
Venice, when thy marble walls," Shelley's "Lines Written Among the
Euganean Hills," and the following sonnet by Wordsworth:
"Once did She hold the gorgeous east in fee;
And was the safeguard of the west: the worth
Of Venice did not fall below her birth,
Venice, the eldest Child of Liberty.
She was a maiden City, bright and free;
No guile seduced, no force could violate;
And, when she took unto herself a Mate,
She must espouse the everlasting Sea.
And what if she had seen those glories fade,
Those titles vanish, and that strength decay;
Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid
When her long life hath reached its final day:
Men are we, and must grieve when even the Shade
Of that which once was great, is passed away."
8. _Charles._ Carlo Alberto, King of Sardinia. He had used severe
measures against "Young Italy," the party founded by Mazzini.
19. _Metternich._ A noted Austrian diplomat and one of the most powerful
enemies of Italian freedom.