Albana Mignaty, Marguerite: Sketches of the historical past of Italy: from the fall of the Roman Empire to the earliest revival of letters and arts (London: Richard Bentley & Son, 1876)

INTRODUCTORY. 11
Through time, change, and transformation, soaring
high in dominion over the spirit of mankind, in all ages,
the name of the Imperial gold-crowned Queen of the Past,
wreathed in eternal beauty, has reigned over all others,
with almost divine attributes, in the mind of successive
generations. Reviving nations looked back to her as a
bright example ; poets sang of her glories and sighed.
Italy at all times aspired after the renewal of the Holy
Roman Empire.