VAGRANT VERSE

Southland Times, Issue 20204, 15 June 1927, Page 4

VAGRANT VERSE

FASCIST HYMN, (“Youth.”) I. Up, my comrades, in your thousands! March to meet the future bright, Rank on rank, serene and fearless, Swift to battle for the right! • Triumphs now the great ideal Bought with blood from sea to sea; Brothers all throughout our country In Italian aims are we. Refrain: Youth! Ah, youth! Thou lovely thing! Time of beauty’s blossoming! Fascism doth surety bring Of our people’s liberty. 11. Lo! No longer is our nation Spurned and humbled in this hour. To a new life she has wakened Rich in glory, great with power. Lift on high the torch resplendent That shall light us on our way! Industry and peace shall win us Perfect freedom in our dav. HL Through long vigils in the trenches Streamed the bullets’ leaden spray All about the flag we follow In the thickest of the fray. Victory shall crown that banner If like men we play the game; ’Tis our Italy that wills it; Let us conquer in her name! TV. Rouse ye, too, O sons of labour! Your redemption is at hand. Heed not those who would destroy you Keep the Red flame from our land. Tear the masks from all the traitors Who would forge a chain for toiL To the stocks with them for planning Asian plots on Latin soil! —By M. Manni (translated by Francis Medhunt)*