Transcribed from the 1917 William Heinemann edition by DavidPrice,

SONGS BEFORE SUNRISE

By
Algernon Charles Swinburne

19 17

LONDON:  WILLIAM HEINEMANN

p. ivFirst published(Ellis), 1871.  New impressions
(Chatto) 1874, ’77, ’80, ’83, ’88,’92, ’99, 1903,
’08, ’11, ’15.  Also Florence PressEdition, 1909

The Golden Pine Edition(Heinemann), 1917

Included in Collected Poems(Chatto), 1904 (twice),
’09, ’10, ’12.  (Heinemann),1917

London: WilliamHeinemann, 1917

p.vDEDICATION

TO
JOSEPH MAZZINI

Take, since you badeit should bear,
   These, of the seed of your sowing,
      Blossom or berry or weed.
Sweet though they be not, or fair,
   That the dew of your word kept growing,
      Sweet at least was the seed.

Men bring you love-offerings of tears,
   And sorrow the kiss that assuages,
      And slaves the hate-offering ofwrongs,
And time the thanksgiving of years,
   And years the thanksgiving of ages;
      I bring you my handful ofsongs.

If a perfume be left, if a bloom,
   Let it live till Italia be risen,
      To be strewn in the dust of hercar
When her voice shall awake from the tomb
   England, and France from her prison,
      Sisters, a star by a star.

p.viI bring you the sword of a song,
   The sword of my spirit’s desire,
      Feeble; but laid at your feet,
That which was weak shall be strong,
   That which was cold shall take fire,
      That which was bitter besweet.

It was wrought not with hands to smite,
   Nor hewn after swordsmiths’ fashion,
      Nor tempered on anvil of steel;
But with visions and dreams of the night,
   But with hope, and the patience of passion,
      And the signet of love for aseal.

Be it witness, till one more strong,
   Till a loftier lyre, till a rarer
      Lute praise her better than I,
Be it witness before you, my song,
   That I knew her, the world’s banner-bearer,
      Who shall cry the republicancry.

Yea, even she as at first,
   Yea, she alone and none other,
      Shall cast down, shall build up,shall bring home;
Slake earth’s hunger and thirst,
   Lighten, and lead as a mother;
      First name of the world’snames, Rome.

p.viiCONTENTS