On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic by William Wordsworth (Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

 

On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic

by William Wordsworth

(Poem, Summary, Paraphrase & Analysis)

On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic

Once did She hold the gorgeous East in fee;

And was the safeguard of the West: the worth

Of Venice did not fall below her birth,

Venice, the eldest Child of Liberty.

 

She was a maiden City, bright and free;

No guile seduced, no force could violate;

And, when she took unto herself a Mate,

She must espouse the everlasting Sea.

 

And what if she had seen those glories fade,

Those titles vanish, and that strength decay;

Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid

 

When her long life hath reached its final day:

Men are we now, and must needs pass away;

A Nation swells and melts like morning shade.

 

Summary

William Wordsworth’s On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic reflects upon the fall of Venice after centuries of power and independence. The poem opens by recalling the city’s former grandeur. Venice once controlled the “gorgeous East,” holding dominion over distant and wealthy territories, and acted as a protector of the West. The poet affirms that the city’s greatness matched the noble circumstances of its origin, calling it the “eldest Child of Liberty.”

Wordsworth then describes Venice in its prime as a “maiden City,” a place untouched by corruption and free from foreign domination. It was not tricked by deception nor overpowered by force. When Venice eventually entered into a lasting alliance, it was with the sea itself, symbolizing her maritime strength and independence. This marriage to the “everlasting Sea” suggests a long-standing bond with the source of her wealth, power, and identity.

The poem then shifts to the decline of Venice. Even if her glory has faded, her titles and honors disappeared, and her strength diminished, Wordsworth suggests that her passing still deserves a measure of regret. Venice’s fall marks the end of a long and remarkable life as a free and powerful state.

In the closing lines, the poet acknowledges the transience of all human and national achievements. Just as individual men must inevitably die, nations, too, are subject to decline and disappearance. The fate of Venice is likened to a shadow that swells at dawn only to dissolve with the advance of day. This final image emphasizes that even the most enduring powers are not exempt from the passage of time.

 

Line-by-line Paraphrase

Once did She hold the gorgeous East in fee;

→ Venice once controlled and ruled over the wealthy and splendid regions of the East.

 

And was the safeguard of the West:

→ She also served as a protector and defender of the western world.

 

the worth

Of Venice did not fall below her birth,

→ Venice’s achievements and greatness were equal to the noble beginnings of her history.

 

Venice, the eldest Child of Liberty.

→ Venice was one of the earliest and most enduring examples of a free state.

 

She was a maiden City, bright and free;

→ She was like a pure and independent maiden, shining with freedom.

 

No guile seduced, no force could violate;

→ She was neither corrupted by deceit nor conquered by force.

 

And, when she took unto herself a Mate,

→ And when she chose a partner or ally,

 

She must espouse the everlasting Sea.

→ It was the eternal sea itself that she united with, symbolizing her maritime power and independence.

 

And what if she had seen those glories fade,

→ Even if she had watched her splendor diminish,

 

Those titles vanish, and that strength decay;

→ And seen her honors lost and her power weaken,

 

Yet shall some tribute of regret be paid

→ Still, some measure of sorrow and respect is owed to her.

 

When her long life hath reached its final day:

→ Now that her long existence as a great city-state has come to an end.

 

Men are we now, and must needs pass away;

→ We are human, and we too must eventually die.

 

A Nation swells and melts like morning shade.

→ A nation rises and fades away just like a shadow that grows at sunrise and then disappears with the day.

 

Analysis in Detail

William Wordsworth’s On the Extinction of the Venetian Republic is a sonnet that reflects on the grandeur, independence, and eventual decline of Venice, framing her story as both a historical event and a universal truth about the impermanence of political power. Written in 1802, during a time when the Republic of Venice had recently fallen to Napoleon and been absorbed into larger empires, the poem captures the sense of both admiration and inevitability that accompanies the end of great nations.

The opening quatrain sets a tone of historical remembrance. Wordsworth recalls Venice’s period of dominance when she “held the gorgeous East in fee,” controlling territories and trade routes that brought immense wealth and influence. At the same time, she was “the safeguard of the West,” a defensive bulwark against threats from the East. The poet asserts that Venice’s accomplishments matched the nobility of her origins, calling her “the eldest Child of Liberty,” which highlights her early and long-standing status as a free, self-governing state.

The second quatrain moves from political power to moral and symbolic purity. Venice is described as a “maiden City, bright and free,” untouched by corruption or conquest. Wordsworth emphasizes that neither deceit (“no guile seduced”) nor brute force (“no force could violate”) could compromise her freedom. When Venice did form a bond, it was not with another political power but with “the everlasting Sea.” This metaphorical “marriage” to the sea conveys her identity as a maritime republic, dependent on naval strength, trade, and the waterways that both protected and enriched her.

The sestet shifts from celebration to lamentation, acknowledging the decline that has already occurred. Wordsworth concedes that Venice has seen her “glories fade,” her “titles vanish,” and her “strength decay.” Despite this loss, he insists that “some tribute of regret” is due, suggesting that the end of such a long-lived and remarkable state should evoke solemn respect. The “final day” of Venice’s long life signals the death of a political entity that had stood for centuries as a symbol of freedom and power.

In the concluding lines, the poet broadens the scope of the poem from the fate of Venice to a universal truth about human and national existence. Just as individuals (“Men are we now”) must inevitably die, nations too follow the same pattern of rise and fall. The final simile—“A Nation swells and melts like morning shade”—is a poignant reminder that even the most formidable powers are temporary. The image of a shadow growing in the early light only to vanish under the full sun encapsulates the fleeting nature of political and historical glory.

Through this sonnet, Wordsworth crafts both an elegy for Venice and a meditation on the cycles of history. The poem balances admiration for Venice’s enduring independence with acceptance of her demise, ultimately framing her story as part of the larger, unavoidable rhythm of human and national life.