Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-22
NEW ITALY DESCRIBED
BY POET D'ANNUNZIO

BY PUEl D'ANNUNLIU
Continued from First Page)
save comrade, and TO sum up all.
fine gentleman, in the sense which our
thirteenth century forefathcrs gave to
the world-these are the Latin quail
ties Of our young soldiers, compact
nhalanx, with clear eyes and light
movements. which the divine Pallas
would behold with Joy from henea tn
the gaping helmet fighting in Carnia
in the Alps of Trent. along the Izonso
and on the Montenero. which has al
ready become in the history OF heroism
n flaming pyre OF light
Italy to-day Ia a single effort, which
as in the greatest periods OF her COM
munes and her signorie. gives rise TO
the maSimus individual and the maxi
mum collective power. civic virtue is
not less firm and less willing than war
. like virtue.
COUNTRY RENT
BY GOD OF WAR
have traversed during my ride the
wonderful region devastated six
months ago by the obscure subterran-
can demon. This region, chosen for so
terrible an act, is in the very heart of
august Italy. Here the whole country
appears to have been seized and rent
I'm her most vital point by the masculine
sCoi. lord or war and death. whom the
= Sdbellc tribes worshipped under the
:" uise of a javelin. The most noble dust
OF centuries was scattered to the winds
with the greatest images of heroic
> beauty and the highest traditions of
untrammelled force. 1t was here in the
midst OF these rugged mountains that
the Babellic bull struggled against the
Roman wolf. II was here that the eight
free peoples swore solemn covenant
Of alliance, exchanged hostages and
voted themselves to death.
1t was here that they named Italica
their fortified city in the days when the
name of Italy and the name Of Freedom
were one and the same. They all per-
ished. Their blood encrimsoned the tops
OF the mountains. Whole cohorts who
had dropped on the snow through hum
ger and fatigue never awakened. Their
chief, Warsius, OF the race OF Cyrce
miraculously esCa ped from shame Hav-
Ing been made prisoner, he was being
lea before fompeX when one of his
slaves who followed him. suddenly
sna,chnE It sword from soldier Of
The escort. killed him with a single
blow. crying 1T is J who free my mas
ter
SOLDIERS WORSHIP
AT HISTORIC ALTAR
After thirteen centuries. In this very
land OF the Narsi, OF the plains Of Tag
liacozzo, there flowed the blood OF the
= L.
Louis. with his long crusaders sword.
an'ote Gown At one single blow the Ia st
descendant OF Svevia, the frail imperial
stripping on the site where the battle
had been fought Charles of Anjou dedi-
Gated 4 church TO our Lady OF Victory.
for the repose OF his knights
In That crun:bling old church. where
the golden lily still shines at the end
Of ha!' ruined altar. assisted the
other morning At the singing Of a mas
a
ciuitS newly enlisted. about TO start
Tor the war. The recruits had occupi e.
all the seats. and AS their number was
greater than the space of the sacred
eGlace they crowded around the en-.
trance. With barred heads and occupied
all the porch under the shadow of the
venerable oak trees
When ths priest celebrated the sac.
rihce Of The body and the blood OF our
Lord there arose a chan, from lie
Altered through the cracked alabaster
panes delicate choir Of women's and
ohi!dTen's voices. an unsteady. vacillat.
ing choir, which masculine oiccs grad.
ua!Iy joined and strengthened until Il
was transmitted into powerful invo.
cation "kyr.c cle!sor"
All the soldiers SANG In the cnurcf
and III the porch. before going fort.
10 agAt. not unlike the krigh,s o.
Charles or Anjcu before marching viz
banners d!splsyed against Conradin O
Syovia
Death--n Beautiful Male Genius.
Iae same epic breath Sew over :,
MARY o! the Victory and curved III.
CROWN on the tall, rugged rocks whic,
seem 10 nav" been "lef, in twain l.,
the stroke OF 4 gigantic sword saw
the spir!t OF the Mind trembling i'm IN,
gothic arch Of the great wac opeu.,
portal, above the soldiers VINO san.
kneeiing upon the well-wo-n ,hr.sb
hold. And suddenly. Ia the luninou
window. as N d mystic space. ,ncr
appeared the craven G.urc OF dcatr
not the horrible old female but ~
beautiful male genus 70 whom All tn.
robust youth was cousecgat.d
wave your nag" old Alard IA
shouted seven centuries ago AnG tn
brother Of ST. Louis had replied: NJ.
the Lord our God be praised forever
And ne had intoncd "a cauticle, and =
the knights and harons mad sung wi,
him: "kyric cleison." And after m
can,icle was over. III. banners n,
waved before the wind. aud the arm.
mast had moved forward to tho h,u
tie and the blood OF the Germans ha
commenced To fo~ down toward m
plain and to redden the waters OF ~
Uncle and the Salto.
The ardor OF battle shonc upon -
countenances Of the new soldiers .
they sang the same can,!cle. "kyr