Beatrice Cenci to Heaven and Earth

Now pelt in rattling sheaves, thou fiery rain;

Pour thick thy flakes, thou incandescent ash,

And, like a whirling, never-ceasing lash,

Scourge, and rescourge this city and its plain!

Or shake Earth's props again, and yet again,

Ye hands of God, until she gape and crash,

And molten lava gurgle up and wash

With fiery waves the unutterable stain!

The guiltless stars above me are too bright:

The guiltless flowers all around distil

Too pure an incense through the summer night;

The horrible placidities that fill

The earth and sky are mocking, and incite

My thoughts to murder. Everything says: Kill!