I.
 THE corn has turned from grey to red,
 Since first my spirit wandered forth
 From the drear cities of the north,
 And to Italia's mountains fled.

 And here I set my face towards home,
 For all my pilgrimage is done,
 Although, methinks, yon blood-red sun
 Marshals the way to Holy Rome.

 O Blessed Lady, who dost hold
 Upon the seven hills thy reign!
 O Mother without blot or stain,
 Crowned with bright crowns of triple gold!

 O Roma, Roma, at thy feet
 I lay this barren gift of song!
 For, ah! the way is steep and long
 That leads unto thy sacred street.

 II.

 And yet what joy it were for me
 To turn my feet unto the south,
 And journeying towards the Tiber mouth
 To kneel again at Fiesole!

 And wandering through the tangled pines
 That break the gold of Arno's stream,
 To see the purple mist and gleam
 Of morning on the Apennines.

 By many a vineyard-hidden home,
 Orchard, and olive-garden grey,
 Till from the drear Campagna's way
 The seven hills bear up the dome!

 III.

 A pilgrim from the northern seas--
 What joy for me to seek alone
 The wondrous Temple, and the throne
 Of Him who holds the awful keys!

 When, bright with purple and with gold,
 Come priest and holy Cardinal,
 And borne above the heads of all
 The gentle Shepherd of the Fold.

 O joy to see before I die
 The only God-anointed King,
 And hear the silver trumpets ring
 A triumph as He passes by!

 Or at the altar of the shrine
 Holds high the mystic sacrifice,
 And shows a God to human eyes
 Beneath the veil of bread and wine.

 IV.

 For lo, what changes time can bring!
 The cycles of revolving years
 May free my heart from all its fears,--
 And teach my lips a song to sing.

 Before yon field of trembling gold
 Is garnered into dusty sheaves,
 Or ere the autumn's scarlet leaves
 Flutter as birds adown the wold,

 I may have run the glorious race,
 And caught the torch while yet aflame,
 And called upon the holy name
 Of Him who now doth hide His face.