# To Garibaldi, with a Book explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The speaker reflects on the solace found in reading before battle, drawing a parallel between Brutus at Philippi and Garibaldi, and expresses hope that a book might ease a moment of pain or memory, leading to gratitude toward God.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Purification

The poem explores how reading can provide forgetfulness of pain and grief, offering a form of purification through temporary relief.

### Redemption and Grace

The speaker hopes the book will 'wile away one pang' and lead to gratitude toward God, suggesting a redemptive quality in shared literary solace.

## Character check-ins

### Brother of Brutus

Addressed as 'Brother of Brutus, of high hearts the chief,' likely referring to Garibaldi.

### God

Thanked at the end for the relief brought by the book.

## Key lines

> When at Philippi, he who would have freed Great Rome from tyrants, for the season brief That lay ’twixt him and battle, sought relief From painful thoughts, he in a book did read

Before the battle of Philippi, Brutus, who aimed to liberate Rome from tyranny, read a book to distract himself from painful thoughts.

_The speaker draws a parallel between Brutus and Garibaldi, suggesting that reading offers solace before conflict._

> Tell me my book has wiled away one pang That out of some lone sacred memory sprang, Or wrought an hour’s forgetfulness of pain, And I shall rise, my heart brimful of gain, And thank my God amid the golden clang.

If my book has eased even a single pang from a sacred memory or provided an hour of relief from pain, I will rise with a full heart and thank God amid the sounds of battle.

_The speaker expresses hope that the gift of a book can bring comfort and lead to gratitude toward God._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/to-garibaldi-with-a-book
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters