25 Teacher to the Nation sculpture of the author, an old man seated with a book, his head slightly tilted, as in kindly thought about the grandeur and the folly of man, and the love of God that overcomes all wickedness. Or you may go to Milan, to the Cimitero Monumentale, where he is entombed. Or you may ask schoolchildren about Renzo and Lucia, and they will be happy to tell you things; because in Italy, The Betrothed is not just studied. It is beloved. No one now where English is spoken stands as Manzoni did for the Italians. But he would never want us to end with praise of himself. The true and only man, as Manzoni knew, was Christ. So I will end with a verse fromManzoni’s hymn in honor of the Resurrection: He is risen: his sacred head Rests upon the cloth no more; He is risen: to one side Of the lonely sepulcher Lies the shroud he tossed away: Like a strong man flushed with wine Wakes the Lord upon this day. ••
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