Rossini

By John Todhunter (1839–1916)

Gioachino Antonio Rossini, the famous Italian composer, was born Feb. 29, 1792.

THE GHOSTLY wind of Weber’s northern pines,

With its luxurious dread, ne’er haunted thee;

Maddening the heart like bright Circean wines,

Thy siren songs float o’er the sunlit sea;

Thy Faun-like childhood caught a Pagan glee

From mellow clusters, bending trellised vines

In some warm Tuscan vale, where sunset shines

On vintage dance and jocund minstrelsy.

If life were but a Bacchanal procession

Of sensuous joys, thou wert its great high-priest,

Old Pan of music, who, half-god, half-beast,

On the shy nymph of tears mak’st bold aggression:

Yet in thy bowers we sit at endless feast,

And of thy gorgeous realm take rich possession.