Arts & Sciences
Sonnet LVIII: To Tobia Adami
Translated by John Addington Symonds (1878) · From Sonnets (trans. Symonds, 1878)
Holding the cynic lantern in your hand,
Through Europe, Egypt, Asia, you have passed,
Till at Ausonia's feet you find at last
That Cyclops' cave, where I, to darkness banned,
In light eternal forge for you the brand
Against Abaddon, who hath overcast
The truth and right, Adami, made full fast
Unto God's glory by our steadfast band.
Go, smite each sophist, tyrant, hypocrite!
Girt with the arms of the first Wisdom, free
Your country from the frauds that cumber it!
Swerve not: 'twere sin. How good, how great the praise
Of him who turns youth, strength, soul, energy,
Unto the dayspring of the eternal rays!
Cite this poem
MLA
Campanella, Tommaso. “Sonnet LVIII: To Tobia Adami.” Translated by John Addington Symonds. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/campanella/57/.
Chicago
Campanella, Tommaso. “Sonnet LVIII: To Tobia Adami.” Translated by John Addington Symonds. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/campanella/57/.
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