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NARDI. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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A Florentine exile named Nardi finds himself in the grand Roman palace of Cardinal Hippolito, feeling utterly out of place.

Poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Themes
exile, freedom, justice
The PoemFull text

NARDI.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I am bewildered. These Numidian slaves, In strange attire; these endless ante-chambers; This lighted hall, with all its golden splendors, Pictures, and statues! Can this be the dwelling Of a disciple of that lowly Man Who had not where to lay his head? These statues Are not of Saints; nor is this a Madonna, This lovely face, that with such tender eyes Looks down upon me from the painted canvas. My heart begins to fail me. What can he Who lives in boundless luxury at Rome Care for the imperilled liberties of Florence, Her people, her Republic? Ah, the rich Feel not the pangs of banishment. All doors Are open to them, and all hands extended, The poor alone are outcasts; they who risked All they possessed for liberty, and lost; And wander through the world without a friend, Sick, comfortless, distressed, unknown, uncared for. Enter CARDINAL HIPPOLITO, in Spanish cloak and slouched hat.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A Florentine exile named Nardi finds himself in the grand Roman palace of Cardinal Hippolito, feeling utterly out of place. He contrasts the Cardinal's extravagant lifestyle with the modest teachings of Christ, questioning how someone immersed in such wealth could truly care about the freedom of Florence. The poem concludes on a somber note: while the wealthy can always find a place to belong, the poor who fought and sacrificed for freedom are left with nothing.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. I am bewildered. These Numidian slaves, / In strange attire; these endless ante-chambers;

    Editor's note

    Nardi begins in the midst of a thought, feeling overwhelmed by the breathtaking scene surrounding him. The sight of Numidian slaves and the countless waiting rooms reflects immense wealth and power—a reality completely alien to someone who has sacrificed everything in the name of a republic. The disjointed, list-like sentences reflect his confused state of mind.

  2. This lighted hall, with all its golden splendors, / Pictures, and statues!

    Editor's note

    Nardi lists the hall's treasures — gold, paintings, sculptures — and the exclamation mark shows his surprise. These aren’t the belongings of a humble Christian churchman; they’re the luxuries of a Renaissance prince. The inventory quietly accuses the Cardinal even before he arrives.

  3. Can this be the dwelling / Of a disciple of that lowly Man / Who had not where to lay his head?

    Editor's note

    The rhetorical question serves as the moral core of the passage. Nardi references Christ — 'that lowly Man' who had nothing — and compares him to the Cardinal's palace. This contrast is striking: a prince of the Church living in stark opposition to the founder of that Church.

  4. These statues / Are not of Saints; nor is this a Madonna,

    Editor's note

    Nardi observes that the art on display leans towards the secular rather than the religious. Instead of saints and the Virgin Mary, there are pagan statues and a portrait of an attractive woman. This detail subtly reinforces the idea that the Cardinal's loyalties are more aligned with the world than with spirituality.

  5. My heart begins to fail me. What can he / Who lives in boundless luxury at Rome / Care for the imperilled liberties of Florence,

    Editor's note

    Nardi's hope crumbles. He has come to seek the Cardinal's assistance in rescuing Florence's republic, but as he stands in this palace, he can no longer trust that the man will truly care. The word 'imperilled' elevates Florence's political crisis to something urgent and valuable that's on the verge of being lost forever.

  6. Ah, the rich / Feel not the pangs of banishment.

    Editor's note

    This is the poem's most striking shift. Nardi shifts away from addressing the Cardinal in his thoughts and instead makes a broader comment on class. The wealthy are never really exiled since their wealth grants them access to everything. The term 'pangs' suggests a physicality—exile involves not only political struggles but also physical pain.

  7. The poor alone are outcasts; they who risked / All they possessed for liberty, and lost;

    Editor's note

    Nardi sees himself in the poor who bet everything on a political cause and ended up ruined. The line break after 'lost' makes that word stand alone for a moment, adding to its impact. These individuals risked their lives for an ideal and got nothing in return.

  8. And wander through the world without a friend, / Sick, comfortless, distressed, unknown, uncared for.

    Editor's note

    The final list of adjectives—five in total, each contributing to a sense of abandonment—feels intentionally tiring to read. Nardi is reflecting on his own state. The next stage direction, introducing the Cardinal in his elegant Spanish cloak, highlights the stark contrast between the two men right away.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone is bitter and disillusioned, but it never crosses into rage. Nardi speaks softly, almost as if he’s talking to himself, which makes his criticism of the Cardinal feel more impactful than a straightforward confrontation would. Beneath the bitterness lies grief — the grief of a man who had faith in something and saw it collapse. The final series of adjectives conveys a sense of tired resignation rather than anger.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The palace and its golden splendors
The Cardinal's luxurious surroundings highlight the Church's corruption and the apathy of those in power. Each gilded detail shows that the man Nardi seeks help from exists in a world cut off from suffering.
The secular statues and the painted face
The lack of saints alongside a stunning earthly portrait suggests that the Cardinal's genuine loyalties lie with the material world rather than the divine. This serves as visual evidence of the hypocrisy that Nardi suspects.
The open doors
Doors that swing open for the wealthy symbolize access, privilege, and a sense of belonging. In contrast, for those in poverty, every door remains closed. This image transforms a simple physical object into a reflection of social justice.
The 'lowly Man' (Christ)
Christ, who possessed nothing and had no permanent residence, serves as the quiet benchmark for judging the Cardinal, who falls short. Nardi avoids naming him directly, making the reference feel more like an intimate reflection than a formal sermon.
Wandering
The image of the poor exile wandering "through the world" reflects the old notion of banishment as a form of living death. To aimlessly wander without a destination means losing one's sense of identity and belonging.

§06Historical context

Historical context

This passage features a dramatic monologue from Longfellow's verse play *Michael Angelo*, which was published posthumously in 1883. The speaker is Nardi, a republican exile from Florence. The historical Jacopo Nardi was an actual person—a Florentine historian and statesman who spent many years in exile after the Medici regained control and dismantled the Florentine Republic in 1530. Cardinal Hippolito de' Medici, whom Nardi visits, was a multifaceted character: a Medici prince with genuine political ambitions and some sympathy for Florence, yet he lived lavishly as part of the Renaissance Roman aristocracy. Longfellow wrote the play in his later years, reflecting his long-standing fascination with Renaissance Italy, shaped by his youth spent there and his translations of Dante. This scene encapsulates the genuine historical conflict between republican ideals and the harsh realities of power.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

Nardi is inspired by the actual Jacopo Nardi, a Florentine statesman and historian who faced exile after the Medici family defeated the Florentine Republic in 1530. He has made his way to Rome to seek the support of Cardinal Hippolito de' Medici, hoping the Cardinal will leverage his influence to help bring back Florentine freedom.

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