Sacred bough clipped, steel, in the face of the firebrand,

Then the monarch of 'Adria' fallen.

The 1 line. During the First World War, aviation was just beginning to make its first steps. The World war III will be a war of missiles. Therefore, this line is most suitable for World War II. Air battles were fought constantly, especially at the end of the war, when of aircrafts were built a lot.

This line can also be interpreted as an atomic bomb explosion in Japan, which was dropped from aircraft.

The 4 line. If we assume that Adria is the Adriatic Sea, then the most significant state in this region is Italy. Victor Emmanuel III was her monarch at that time. However, he did not have real power, but Mussolini. The name Andrea is among his names, which is consonant with Adria. In April 1945 he was killed. His face was disfigured beyond recognition.

Linkage with other quatrains: 5.29, 3.63.

Quatrain 4.56 Hitler

Apres victoire de raibeuse langue,

L'esprit tempté en tranquil & repos:

Victeur sanguin par conflit fait harengue,

Rostir la langue & la chair & les os.

After the victory of the raving tongue,

The spirit tempted by a tranquility and repose:

Throughout the conflict the bloody victor makes orations,

Roasting the tongue and the flesh and the bones.