I would gladly transcribe _verbatim_ the lines in which that noble spirit described the scene I witnessed, in her dear company, and that of her husband, from Casa Guidi windows; for how cold and colourless must my words appear compared with her surpassing eloquence. But space will not allow of the whole transcript, and I therefore unwillingly confine myself to fragments— “The day was such a day As Florence owes the sun. The sky above, Its weight upon the mountains seemed to lay, And palpitate in glory, like a dove Who has flown too fast, full-hearted—take away The image! for the heart of man beat higher That day in Florence, flooding all her streets And piazzas with a tumult and desire. How we gazed From Casa Guidi windows while, in trains Of orderly procession, banners raised, And intermittent bursts of martial strains ... they passed on! The Magistracy, with insignia, passed, ... And all the people shouted in the sun, And all the thousand windows which had cast A ripple of silks in blue and scarlet down (As if the houses overflowed at last), Seemed growing larger with fair heads and eyes. The Lawyers passed ... The Priesthood passed.... Next were viewed The Artists; next, the Trades; and after came The People.... And very loud the shout was for that same Motto, ‘Il popolo’—‘IL POPOLO.’ And next, with banners, each in his degree, Deputed representatives a-row, Of every separate State of Tuscany: Siena’s she-wolf, bristling on the fold Of the first flag, preceded Pisa’s hare, And Massa’s lion floated calm in gold, Pienza’s following with his silver stare, Arezzo’s steed pranced clear from bridle-hold?” Then followed a concourse of foreigners of all nations, lovers of Italy— “Oh heaven, I think that day had noble use Among God’s days!” And so it had, for that day was a forerunner of better days to come, though many a reverse was in store for the House of Savoie, and many a check was to be given to the brave Sardinians in the battle-field. Still, that day, commemorated by our English poetess, shadowed forth the time when the King of Sardinia became the King of Italy, and Imperial Rome the capital of his kingdom.