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ilmanzoni text integral passage complete quotation of the sources works historical five may poetry ode napoleon
the fifth may in verses prologue
INTRODUCTION TO THE RESURRECTION
Written by Rev. J.F. Bingham
"The Poet enters ex abrupto into the midst of his argument with that enthusiasm and that lyric fire which show how his spirit was perfectly compenetrated with the material which he was girding himself to handle; and the fervor of his feeling is equaled by the vivacious coloring of his imagination, which is one of the many evidences that go to disprove -- even render absurd -- the silly theory of DE GUBERNATIS and others (totally unsupported whether by any direct proof, or even any justifying induction), that the converted Poet undertook to write the Sacred Hymns under the peremptory requisition of Monsignor Tosi, his confessor; to say nothing of the fact that this great poet was not of the rank to be prescribed to; besides, if there ever was an intellect little disposed to write and poetize at the volition of another that intellect was MANZONI's.
"On the contrary, in the heat and simplicity of the movement of this first [written] hymn and even in the rapid step of the metre, we seem to see the fervor of spontaneous religious sentiment which wells up from the soul and from an inflamed fancy, bursting forth with a certain passion of ascetic pathos; which goes bare of that exquisiteness of art which brightens and freshens Biblical images, elaborates subtle comparisons, and ornates with flowers of rhetoric and studious turns of expression." -- FINZI.
ARGUMENT. -- The Poet taking up his pen to commence the stupendous series of the Sacred Hymns, begins with this jubilant Ode and opens his song with a general salutation to the Church and the world in words used by the early Christians at first meeting on Easter morning. This being met by the doubts of the Chorus representing an incredulous world he reiterates his assertion with the most solemn of oaths which in itself assumes the Divinity of the Savior. He continues repeating his statement again and again adding at each repetition another and still another visible and tangible proof of the certainty of the stupendous fact. Then, he notes the liberation of the ancient Fathers at that awful moment; and touches on the testimony of the Prophets who had foretold in their days, with clearer and ever clearer strokes, the coming wonder of history. Again, he returns to the story and sets forth one by one the tremendous particulars as these are described by the Evangelists. Then, he calls on the faithful to admire the glorious mystery as adumbrated in the festive Rites of the Church and to solemnize the occasion with soul and body jubilant in the light of the truth. Finally, all is to be overshadowed by the expression of brotherly Love in generous and peaceful festivity, an earnest of the heavenly home. And it is in this way, he avers, Truth and Love (which in fact are what is typified in the great event), are destined, like Christ Himself and with Him, to issue triumphant from the tomb, change the fortunes of the universe and regenerate the human family.
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