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TheNewLife(Lavitanuova)DanteAlighieri

TranslatedbyDanteGabrielRossetti

EllisandElvey,London,1899

PREFATORYNOTE

DanteGabrielRossetti,beingthesonofanItalianwhowasgreatlyimmersedinthestudyofDanteAlighieri,andwhoproducedaCommentontheInferno,andotherbooksrelatingtoDantesqueliterature,wasfromhisearliestchildhoodfamiliarwiththenameofthestupendousFlorentine,andtosomeextentawareoftherangeandqualityofhiswritings.Nevertheless—orperhapsindeeditmayhavebeenpartlyonthatveryaccount—hedidnotinthoseopeningyearsreadDantetoanydegreeworthmentioning:hewaswellversedinShakespeare,WalterScott,Byron,andsomeotherwriters,yearsbeforeheappliedhimselftoDante.Hemayhavebeenfourteenyearsofage,orevenfifteen(May1843),beforehetookseriouslytotheauthoroftheDivinaCommedia.Hethenreadhimeagerly,andwiththeprofoundestadmirationanddelight;andfromtheCommediaheproceededtothelyricalpoemsandtheVitaNuova.Iquestionwhetherheeverread—unlessinthemostcursoryway—otherandlessfascinatingwritingsofAlighieri,suchastheConvitoandtheDeMonarchiâ.

Fromreading,Rossettiwentontotranslating.Hetranslatedatanearlyage,chieflybetween1845and1849,agreatnumberofpoemsbytheItalianscontemporarywithDante,orprecedinghim;and,amongotherthings,hemadeaversionofthewholeVitaNuova,proseandverse.ThismaypossiblyhavebeenthefirstimportantthingthathetranslatedfromtheItalian:ifnotthefirst,stilllesswasitthelast,anditmaywellbethathisrenderingofthebookwascompletedwithintheyear1846,orearlyin1847.Hedidnot,ofcourse,leavehisversionexactlyasithadcomeatfirst:onthecontrary,hetookcounselwithfriends(AlfredTennysonamongthenumber),toneddowncruditiesandjuvenilities,andworkedtomakethewholethingimpressiveandartistic—forinsuchmattershewasmuchmorechargeablewithover-fastidiousnessthanwithlaxity.Still,thework,aswenowhaveit,isessentiallytheworkofthoseadolescentyears—fromtimetotimereconsideredandimproved,butnottransmuted.

SomefewyearsafterproducinghistranslationoftheVitaNuova,Rossettiwasdesirousofpublishingit,andofillustratingthevolumewithetchingsfromvariousdesigns,whichhehadmeanwhiledone,ofincidentsinthestory.Thisproject,however,hadtobelaidaside,owingtowantofmeans,andtheetchingswereneverundertaken.Itwasonlyin1861thatthevolumenamedTheEarlyItalianPoets,includingthetranslatedVitaNuova,wasbroughtout:thesamevolume,withachangeinthearrangementofitscontents,wasreissuedin1874,entitledDanteandhisCircle.Thisbook,initsoriginalform,wasreceivedwithfavour,andsettledtheclaimofRossettitorankasapoetictranslator,orindeedasapoetinhisownright.

ForTheEarlyItalianPoetshewroteaPreface,fromwhichapassage,immediatelyrelatingtotheVitaNuova,isextractedinthepresentedition.Therearesomeotherpassages,affectingthewholeofthetranslationsinthatvolume,whichdeservetobeborne

inmind,asshowingthespiritinwhichheundertookthetranslatingwork,andIgivethemhere:—

“Thelife-bloodofrhythmicaltranslationisthiscommandment—thatagoodpoemshallnotbeturnedintoabadone.Theonlytruemotiveforputtingpoetryintoafreshlanguagemustbetoendowafreshnation,asfaraspossible,withonemorepossessionofbeauty.Poetrynotbeinganexactscience,literalityofrenderingisaltogethersecondarytothischieflaw.Isayliterality,—notfidelity,whichisbynomeansthesamething.Whenliteralitycanbecombinedwithwhatisthustheprimaryconditionofsuccess,thetranslatorisfortunate,andmuststrivehisutmosttounitethem;whensuchobjectcanonlybeobtainedbyparaphrase,thatishisonlypath.Anymeritpossessedbythesetranslationsisderivedfromanefforttofollowthisprinciple….Thetaskofthetranslator(andwithallhumilitybeitspoken)isoneofsomeself-denial.Oftenwouldheavailhimselfofanyspecialgraceofhisownidiomandepoch,ifonlyhiswillbelongedtohim:oftenwouldsomecadenceservehimbutforhisauthor’sstructure—somestructurebutforhisauthor’scadence:oftenthebeautifulturnofastanzamustbeweakenedtoadoptsomerhymewhichwilltally,andheseesthepoetrevellinginabundanceoflanguagewherehimselfisscantilysupplied.Nowhewouldslightthematterforthemusic,andnowthemusicforthematter;butno,hemustdealtoeachalike.Sometimestooaflawintheworkgallshim,andhewouldfainremoveit,doingforthepoetthatwhichhisagedeniedhim;butno,itisnotinthebond.”

ItmaybeaswelltoexplainhereaverysmallsharewhichImyselftookintheVitaNuovatranslation.WhenthevolumeTheEarlyItalianPoetswasinpreparation,mybrotheraskedme(January1861)toaidby“collatingmyVitaNuovawiththeoriginal,andamendinginaccuracies.”Hedefinedtheworkfurtherasfollows:“WhatIwantisthatyoushouldcorrectmytranslationthroughout,removinginaccuraciesandmannerisms.And,ifyouhavetime,itwouldbeagreatservicetotranslatetheanalysesofthepoems(whichIomitted).This,however,ifyouthinkitdesirabletoincludethem.Ididnotatthetime(ongroundofreadableness),butsincethinktheymaybedesirable:onlyhavebecomesounfamiliarwiththebookthatIhavenodistinctopinion.”OnJanuary25thhewrote:“Manyandmanythanksforamostessentialservicemostthoroughlyperformed.Ihavenotyetverifiedthewholeofthenotes,butIseetheyarejustwhatIneeded,andwillsavemeavastamountoftrouble.Ishouldverymuchwishthatthetranslationweremoreliteral,butcannotdoitallagain.Mynotes,whichyouhavetakenthetroubleofrevising,are,ofcourse,quitepaltryanduseless.”

Inorderthatthereadermayjudgeastothisquestionofliterality,IwillgiveheretheliteralEnglishingoftheSonnetatp.38,andtheparagraphwhichprecedesit(Itakethepassagequiteatrandom),andthereadercan,ifhelikes,comparethisrenderingwiththatwhichappearsinDanteRossetti’stext:—

“AfterthedepartureofthisgentlewomanitwasthepleasureoftheLordoftheAngelstocalltoHisgloryaladyyoungandmuchofnoble[1]aspect,whowasverygracefulinthisaforesaidcity:whosebodyIsawlyingwithoutthesoulamidmanyladies,whowereweepingverypiteously.Then,rememberingthaterewhileIhadseenherkeepingcompany

withthatmostnobleone,Icouldnotwithholdsometears.Indeed,weeping,Ipurposedtospeakcertainwordsaboutherdeath,inguerdonofmyhavingatsomewhilesseenherwithmylady.AndsomewhatofthisIreferredtointhelastpartofthewordswhichIspokeofher,asmanifestlyappearstohimwhounderstandsthem:andthenIcomposedthesetwoSonnets—ofwhichthefirstbegins,‘Weep,lovers’—thesecond,‘VillainDeath.’

“Weep,lovers,sinceLoveweeps,—hearkeningwhatcausemakeshimwail:Lovehearsladiesinvokingpity,showingbittergriefoutwardlybytheeyes;becausevillainDeathhassethiscruelworkinguponanobleheart,ruiningthatwhichinanobleladyistobepraisedintheworld,apartfromhonour.HearhowmuchLovedidherhonouring;forIsawhimlamentinginverypersonoverthedeadseemlyimage:andoftenhegazedtowardsheaven,whereinwasalreadysettledthenoblesoulwhohadbeenaladyofsuchgladsomesemblance.”

ItwouldbeoutofplacetoenterhereintoanydetailedobservationsupontheVitaNuova,itsmeaning,andtheliteraturewhichhasgrownoutofit.Iwillmerelyname,asobviousthingsfortheEnglishreadertoconsult,thetranslationwhichwasmadebySirTheodoreMartin;theessaybyProfessorC.EliotNorton;thetranslationspublishedbyDr.GarnettinhisbookentitledDante,Petrarch,Camoens,124Sonnets,alongwiththeremarksinhisvaluableHistoryofItalianLiterature;Scartazzini’sCompaniontoDante;andthepublicationsoftheRev.Dr.Moore,theforemostofourlivingDantescholars.

W.M.ROSSETTI.

August1899.

INTRODUCTION.

TheVitaNuova(theAutobiographyorAutopsychologyofDante’syouthtillabouthistwenty-seventhyear)isalreadywellknowntomanyintheoriginal,orbymeansofessaysandofEnglishversionspartialorentire.Itistherefore,andonallaccounts,unnecessarytosaymuchmoreoftheworkherethanitsaysforitself.Weddedtoitsexquisiteandintimatebeautiesarepersonalpeculiaritieswhichexcitewonderandconjecture,bestrepliedtointhewordswhichBeatriceherselfismadetoutterintheCommedia:“Questifùtalnellasuavitanuova.”[2]ThusthenyoungDantewas.Allthatseemedpossibletobedoneherefortheworkwastotranslateitinasfreeandclearaformaswasconsistentwithfidelitytoitsmeaning;andtoeaseit,asfaraspossible,fromnotesandencumbrances.

ItmaybenotedherehownecessaryaknowledgeoftheVitaNuovaistothefullcomprehensionofthepartbornebyBeatriceintheCommedia.Moreover,itisonlyfromtheperusalofitsearliestandthenundivulgedself-communingsthatwecandivinethewholebitternessofwrongtosuchasoulasDante’s,itspoignantsenseofabandonment,oritsdeepandjealousrefugeinmemory.Aboveall,itisherethatwefindthefirstmanifestationsofthatwisdomofobedience,thatnaturalbreathofduty,whichafterwards,intheCommedia,liftedupamightyvoiceforwarningandtestimony.ThroughouttheVitaNuovathereisastrainlikethefirstfallingmurmurwhichreachestheearinsomeremotemeadow,andpreparesustolookuponthesea.

Boccaccio,inhisLifeofDante,tellsusthatthegreatpoet,inlaterlife,wasashamedofthisworkofhisyouth.SuchastatementhardlyseemsreconcilablewiththeallusionstoitmadeorimpliedintheCommedia;butitistruethattheVitaNuovaisabookwhichonlyyouthcouldhaveproduced,andwhichmustchieflyremainsacredtotheyoung;toeachofwhomthefigureofBeatrice,lesslifelikethanlovelike,willseemthefriendofhisownheart.Noristhis,perhaps,itsleastpraise.Totaxitsauthorwitheffeminacyonaccountoftheextremesensitivenessevincedbythisnarrativeofhislove,wouldbemanifestlyunjust,whenwefindthat,thoughlovealoneisthethemeoftheVitaNuova,waralreadyrankedamongitsauthor’sexperiencesattheperiodtowhichitrelates.Intheyear1289,theoneprecedingthedeathofBeatrice,DanteservedwiththeforemostcavalryinthegreatbattleofCampaldino,ontheeleventhofJune,whentheFlorentinesdefeatedthepeopleofArezzo.Intheautumnofthenextyear,1290,whenforhim,bythedeathofBeatrice,thecityashesays“satsolitary,”suchrefugeashemightfindfromhisgriefwassoughtinactionanddanger:forwelearnfromtheCommedia(Hell,C.xxi.)thatheservedinthewarthenwagedbyFlorenceuponPisa,andwaspresentatthesurrenderofCaprona.Hesays,usingthereminiscencetogivelifetoadescription,inhisgreatway:—

“I’veseenthetroopsoutofCapronago

Onterms,affrightedthus,whenonthespot

Theyfoundthemselveswithfoemencompass’dso.”

(CAYLEY’STranslation.)

AwordshouldbesaidhereofthetitleofDante’sautobiography.TheadjectiveNuovo,nuova,orNovello,novella,literallyNew,isoftenusedbyDanteandotherearlywritersinthesenseofyoung.ThishasinducedsomeeditorsoftheVitaNuovatoexplainthetitleasmeaningEarlyLife.Ishouldbegladonsomeaccountstoadoptthissupposition,aseverythingisagainwhichincreasesclearnesstothemodernreader;butonconsiderationIthinkthemoremysticalinterpretationofthewords,asNewLife(inreferencetothatrevulsionofhisbeingwhichDantesominutelydescribesashavingoccurredsimultaneouslywithhisfirstsightofBeatrice),appearstheprimaryone,andthereforethemostnecessarytobegiveninatranslation.Theprobabilitymaybethatbothweremeant,butthisIcannotconvey.[3]

DANTEALIGHIERI

THENEWLIFE.(LAVITANUOVA.)

Inthatpartofthebookofmymemorybeforethewhichislittlethatcanberead,thereisarubric,saying,IncipitVitaNova.[4]UndersuchrubricIfindwrittenmanythings;andamongthemthewordswhichIpurposetocopyintothislittlebook;ifnotallofthem,attheleasttheirsubstance.

Ninetimesalreadysincemybirthhadtheheavenoflightreturnedtotheselfsamepointalmost,asconcernsitsownrevolution,whenfirstthegloriousLadyofmymindwasmademanifesttomineeyes;evenshewhowascalledBeatricebymanywhoknewnotwherefore.[5]Shehadalreadybeeninthislifeforsolongasthat,withinhertime,thestarryheavenhadmovedtowardstheEasternquarteroneofthetwelvepartsofadegree;sothatsheappearedtomeatthebeginningofherninthyearalmost,andIsawheralmostattheendofmyninthyear.Herdress,onthatday,wasofamostnoblecolour,asubduedandgoodlycrimson,girdledandadornedinsuchsortasbestsuitedwithherverytenderage.Atthatmoment,Isaymosttrulythatthespiritoflife,whichhathitsdwellinginthesecretestchamberoftheheart,begantotremblesoviolentlythattheleastpulsesofmybodyshooktherewith;andintremblingitsaidthesewords:Eccedeusfortiorme,quiveniensdominabiturmihi.[6]Atthatmomenttheanimatespirit,whichdwellethintheloftychamberwhitherallthesensescarrytheirperceptions,wasfilledwithwonder,andspeakingmoreespeciallyuntothespiritsoftheeyes,saidthesewords:Apparuitjambeatitudovestra.[7]Atthatmomentthenaturalspirit,whichdwelleththerewhereournourishmentisadministered,begantoweep,andinweepingsaidthesewords:Heumiser!quiafrequenterimpedituserodeinceps.[8]

Isaythat,fromthattimeforward,Lovequitegovernedmysoul;whichwasimmediatelyespousedtohim,andwithsosafeandundisputedalordship(byvirtueofstrongimagination)thatIhadnothingleftforitbuttodoallhisbiddingcontinually.HeoftentimescommandedmetoseekifImightseethisyoungestoftheAngels:whereforeIinmyboyhoodoftenwentinsearchofher,andfoundhersonobleandpraiseworthythatcertainlyofhermighthavebeensaidthosewordsofthepoetHomer,“Sheseemednottobethedaughterofamortalman,butofGod.”[9]Andalbeitherimage,thatwaswithmealways,wasanexultationofLovetosubdueme,itwasyetofsoperfectaqualitythatitneverallowedmetobeoverruledbyLovewithoutthefaithfulcounselofreason,whensoeversuchcounselwasusefultobeheard.ButseeingthatwereItodwellovermuchonthepassionsanddoingsofsuchearlyyouth,mywordsmightbecountedsomethingfabulous,Iwillthereforeputthemaside;andpassingmanythingsthatmaybeconceivedbythepatternofthese,Iwillcometosuchasarewritinmymemorywithabetterdistinctness.

Afterthelapseofsomanydaysthatnineyearsexactlywerecompletedsincetheabove-

writtenappearanceofthismostgraciousbeing,onthelastofthosedaysithappenedthatthesamewonderfulladyappearedtomedressedallinpurewhite,betweentwogentleladieselderthanshe.Andpassingthroughastreet,sheturnedhereyesthitherwhereIstoodsorelyabashed:andbyherunspeakablecourtesy,whichisnowguerdonedintheGreatCycle,shesalutedmewithsovirtuousabearingthatIseemedthenandtheretobeholdtheverylimitsofblessedness.Thehourofhermostsweetsalutationwasexactlytheninthofthatday;andbecauseitwasthefirsttimethatanywordsfromherreachedmineears,IcameintosuchsweetnessthatIpartedthenceasoneintoxicated.Andbetakingmetothelonelinessofmineownroom,Ifelltothinkingofthismostcourteouslady,thinkingofwhomIwasovertakenbyapleasantslumber,whereinamarvellousvisionwaspresentedtome:forthereappearedtobeinmyroomamistofthecolouroffire,withinthewhichIdiscernedthefigureofalordofterribleaspecttosuchasshouldgazeuponhim,butwhoseemedtherewithaltorejoiceinwardlythatitwasamarveltosee.Speakinghesaidmanythings,amongthewhichIcouldunderstandbutfew;andofthese,this:Egodominustuus.[10]Inhisarmsitseemedtomethatapersonwassleeping,coveredonlywithablood-colouredcloth;uponwhomlookingveryattentively,Iknewthatitwastheladyofthesalutationwhohaddeignedthedaybeforetosaluteme.Andhewhoheldherheldalsoinhishandathingthatwasburninginflames;andhesaidtome,Videcortuum.[11]Butwhenhehadremainedwithmealittlewhile,Ithoughtthathesethimselftoawakenherthatslept;afterthewhichhemadehertoeatthatthingwhichflamedinhishand;andsheateasonefearing.Then,havingwaitedagainaspace,allhisjoywasturnedintomostbitterweeping;andashewepthegatheredtheladyintohisarms,anditseemedtomethathewentwithheruptowardsheaven:wherebysuchagreatanguishcameuponmethatmylightslumbercouldnotendurethroughit,butwassuddenlybroken.Andimmediatelyhavingconsidered,Iknewthatthehourwhereinthisvisionhadbeenmademanifesttomewasthefourthhour(whichistosay,thefirstoftheninelasthours)ofthenight.

Then,musingonwhatIhadseen,Iproposedtorelatethesametomanypoetswhowerefamousinthatday:andforthatIhadmyselfinsomesorttheartofdiscoursingwithrhyme,Iresolvedonmakingasonnet,inthewhich,havingsalutedallsuchasaresubjectuntoLove,andentreatedthemtoexpoundmyvision,IshouldwriteuntothemthosethingswhichIhadseeninmysleep.AndthesonnetImadewasthis:—

Toeveryheartwhichthesweetpaindothmove,

Anduntowhichthesewordsmaynowbebrought

Fortrueinterpretationandkindthought,

BegreetinginourLord’sname,whichisLove.

Ofthoselonghourswhereinthestars,above,

Wakeandkeepwatch,thethirdwasalmostnought,

WhenLovewasshownmewithsuchterrorsfraught

Asmaynotcarelesslybespokenof.

Heseemedlikeonewhoisfullofjoy,andhad

Myheartwithinhishand,andonhisarm

Mylady,withamantleroundher,slept;

Whom(havingwakenedher)anonhemade

Toeatthatheart;sheate,asfearingharm.

Thenhewentout;andashewent,hewept.

Thissonnetisdividedintotwoparts.InthefirstpartIgivegreeting,andaskananswer;inthesecond,Isignifywhatthinghastobeansweredto.Thesecondpartcommenceshere:“Ofthoselonghours.”

TothissonnetIreceivedmanyanswers,conveyingmanydifferentopinions;ofthewhichonewassentbyhimwhomInowcallthefirstamongmyfriends,anditbeganthus,“Untomythinkingthoubeheld’stallworth.”[12]Andindeed,itwaswhenhelearnedthatIwashewhohadsentthoserhymestohim,thatourfriendshipcommenced.Butthetruemeaningofthatvisionwasnotthenperceivedbyanyone,thoughitbenowevidenttotheleastskilful.

Fromthatnightforth,thenaturalfunctionsofmybodybegantobevexedandimpeded,forIwasgivenupwhollytothinkingofthismostgraciouscreature:wherebyinshortspaceIbecamesoweakandsoreducedthatitwasirksometomanyofmyfriendstolookuponme;whileothers,beingmovedbyspite,wentabouttodiscoverwhatitwasmywishshouldbeconcealed.WhereforeI(perceivingthedriftoftheirunkindlyquestions),byLove’swill,whodirectedmeaccordingtothecounselsofreason,toldthemhowitwasLovehimselfwhohadthusdealtwithme:andIsaidso,becausethethingwassoplainlytobediscernedinmycountenancethattherewasnolongeranymeansofconcealingit.Butwhentheywentontoask,“AndbywhosehelphathLovedonethis?”Ilookedintheirfacessmiling,andspakenowordinreturn.

Nowitfellonaday,thatthismostgraciouscreaturewassittingwherewordsweretobeheardoftheQueenofGlory;[13]andIwasinaplacewhencemineeyescouldbeholdtheirbeatitude:andbetwixtherandme,inadirectline,theresatanotherladyofapleasantfavour;wholookedroundatmemanytimes,marvellingatmycontinuedgazewhichseemedtohaveherforitsobject.Andmanyperceivedthatshethuslooked;sothatdepartingthence,Ihearditwhisperedafterme,“Lookyoutowhatapasssuchaladyhathbroughthim;”andinsayingthistheynamedherwhohadbeenmidwaybetweenthemostgentleBeatriceandmineeyes.ThereforeIwasreassured,andknewthatforthatdaymysecrethadnotbecomemanifest.ThenimmediatelyitcameintomymindthatImightmakeuseofthisladyasascreentothetruth:andsowelldidIplaymypartthatthemostofthosewhohadhithertowatchedandwonderedatme,nowimaginedtheyhadfoundmeout.ByhermeansIkeptmysecretconcealedtillsomeyearsweregoneover;andformybettersecurity,Ievenmadediversrhymesinherhonour;whereofIshallherewriteonlyasmuchasconcerneththemostgentleBeatrice,whichisbutaverylittle.Moreover,aboutthesametimewhilethisladywasascreenforsomuchloveonmypart,Itookthe

resolutiontosetdownthenameofthismostgraciouscreatureaccompaniedwithmanyotherwomen’snames,andespeciallywithherswhomIspakeof.AndtothisendIputtogetherthenamesofsixtyofthemostbeautifulladiesinthatcitywhereGodhadplacedmineownlady;andthesenamesIintroducedinanepistleintheformofasirvent,whichitisnotmyintentiontotranscribehere.NeithershouldIhavesaidanythingofthismatter,didInotwishtotakenoteofacertainstrangething,towit:thathavingwrittenthelist,Ifoundmylady’snamewouldnotstandotherwisethanninthinorderamongthenamesoftheseladies.

NowitsochancedwithherbywhosemeansIhadthuslongtimeconcealedmydesire,thatitbehovedhertoleavethecityIspeakof,andtojourneyafar:whereforeI,beingsorelyperplexedatthelossofsoexcellentadefence,hadmoretroublethanevenIcouldbeforehavesupposed.AndthinkingthatifIspokenotsomewhatmournfullyofherdeparture,myformercounterfeitingwouldbethemorequicklyperceived,IdeterminedthatIwouldmakeagrievoussonnet[14]thereof;thewhichIwillwritehere,becauseithathcertainwordsinitwhereofmyladywastheimmediatecause,aswillbeplaintohimthatunderstands.

Andthesonnetwasthis:—

AllyethatpassalongLove’stroddenway,

Pauseyeawhileandsay

Iftherebeanygrieflikeuntomine:

Iprayyouthatyouhearkenashortspace

Patiently,ifmycase

Benotapiteousmarvelandasign.

Love(never,certes,formyworthlesspart,

Butofhisowngreatheart,)

Vouchsafedtomealifesocalmandsweet

ThatoftIheardfolkquestionasIwent

Whatsuchgreatgladnessmeant:—

Theyspokeofitbehindmeinthestreet.

Butnowthatfearlessbearingisallgone

WhichwithLove’shoardedwealthwasgivenme;

TillIamgrowntobe

SopoorthatIhavedreadtothinkthereon.

AndthusitisthatI,beinglikeasone

Whoisashamedandhideshispoverty,

Withoutseemfullofglee,

Andletmyheartwithintravailandmoan.

Thispoemhastwoprincipalparts;for,inthefirst,ImeantocalltheFaithfulofLoveinthosewordsofJeremiastheProphet,“Ovosomnesquitransitisperviam,attenditeetvidetesiestdolorsicutdolormeus,”andtopraythemtostayandhearme.InthesecondItellwhereLovehadplacedme,withameaningotherthanthatwhichthelastpartofthepoemshows,andIsaywhatIhavelost.Thesecondpartbeginshere,“Love,(never,certes).”

Acertainwhileafterthedepartureofthatlady,itpleasedtheMasteroftheAngelstocallintoHisgloryadamsel,youngandofagentlepresence,whohadbeenverylovelyinthecityIspeakof:andIsawherbodylyingwithoutitssoulamongmanyladies,whoheldapitifulweeping.Whereupon,rememberingthatIhadseenherinthecompanyofexcellentBeatrice,Icouldnothindermyselffromafewtears;andweeping,Iconceivedtosaysomewhatofherdeath,inguerdonofhavingseenhersomewhilewithmylady;whichthingIspakeofinthelatterendoftheversesthatIwritinthismatter,ashewilldiscernwhounderstands.AndIwrotetwosonnets,whicharethese:—

I.Weep,Lovers,sithLove’sveryselfdothweep,

Andsiththecauseforweepingissogreat;

Whennowsomanydames,ofsuchestate

Inworth,showwiththeireyesagriefsodeep:

ForDeaththechurlhaslaidhisleadensleep

Uponadamselwhowasfairoflate,

Defacingallourearthshouldcelebrate,—

Yeaallsavevirtue,whichthesouldothkeep.

NowhearkenhowmuchLovedidhonourher.

Imyselfsawhiminhisproperform

Bendingabovethemotionlesssweetdead,

AndoftengazingintoHeaven;forthere

Thesoulnowsitswhichwhenherlifewaswarm

Dweltwiththejoyfulbeautythatisfled.

Thisfirstsonnetisdividedintothreeparts.Inthefirst,IcallandbeseechtheFaithfulofLovetoweep;andIsaythattheirLordweeps,andthatthey,hearingthereasonwhyheweeps,shallbemoremindedtolistentome.Inthesecond,Irelatethisreason.Inthethird,IspeakofhonourdonebyLovetothisLady.Thesecondpartbeginshere,“Whennowsomanydames;”thethirdhere,“Nowhearken.”

II.Death,alwaycruel,Pity’sfoeinchief,

Motherwhobroughtforthgrief,

Mercilessjudgmentandwithoutappeal!

Sincethoualonehastmademyhearttofeel

Thissadnessandunweal,

Mytongueupbraideththeewithoutrelief.

Andnow(forImustridthynameofruth)

Behovesmespeakthetruth

Touchingthycrueltyandwickedness:

Notthattheybenotknown;butne’ertheless

Iwouldgivehatemorestress

Withthemthatfeedonloveinverysooth.

Outofthisworldthouhastdrivencourtesy,

Andvirtue,dearlyprizedinwomanhood;

Andoutofyouth’sgaymood

Thelovelylightnessisquitegonethroughthee.

WhomnowImourn,nomanshalllearnfromme

Savebythemeasureofthesepraisesgiven.

WhosodeservesnotHeaven

Mayneverhopetohavehercompany.[15]

Thispoemisdividedintofourparts.InthefirstIaddressDeathbycertainpropernamesofhers.Inthesecond,speakingtoher,ItellthereasonwhyIammovedtodenounceher.Inthethird,Irailagainsther.Inthefourth,Iturntospeaktoapersonundefined,althoughdefinedinmyownconception.Thesecondpartcommenceshere,“Sincethoualone;”thethirdhere,“Andnow(forImust);”thefourthhere,“Whosodeservesnot.”

Somedaysafterthedeathofthislady,IhadoccasiontoleavethecityIspeakof,andtogothitherwardswheresheabodewhohadformerlybeenmyprotection;albeittheendofmyjourneyreachednotaltogethersofar.AndnotwithstandingthatIwasvisiblyinthecompanyofmany,thejourneywassoirksomethatIhadscarcelysighingenoughtoeasemyheart’sheaviness;seeingthatasIwent,Ileftmybeatitudebehindme.Whereforeitcametopassthathewhoruledmebyvirtueofmymostgentleladywasmadevisibletomymind,inthelighthabitofatraveller,coarselyfashioned.Heappearedtometroubled,andlookedalwaysontheground;savingonlythatsometimeshiseyeswereturnedtowardsariverwhichwasclearandrapid,andwhichflowedalongthepathIwastaking.

AndthenIthoughtthatLovecalledmeandsaidtomethesewords:“Icomefromthatladywhowassolongthysurety;forthematterofwhosereturn,Iknowthatitmaynotbe.WhereforeIhavetakenthatheartwhichImadetheeleavewithher,anddobearituntoanotherlady,who,asshewas,shallbethysurety;”(andwhenhenamedherIknewherwell).“AndofthesewordsIhavespoken,ifthoushouldstspeakanyagain,letitbeinsuchsortasthatnoneshallperceivetherebythatthylovewasfeignedforher,whichthoumustnowfeignforanother.”Andwhenhehadspokenthus,allmyimaginingwasgonesuddenly,foritseemedtomethatLovebecameapartofmyself:sothat,changedasitwereinmineaspect,Irodeonfullofthoughtthewholeofthatday,andwithheavysighing.Andthedaybeingover,Iwrotethissonnet:—

Adayagone,asIrodesullenly

Uponacertainpaththatlikedmenot,

ImetLovemidwaywhiletheairwashot,

Clothedlightlyasawayfarermightbe.

Andforthecheerheshowed,heseemedtome

Asonewhohathlostlordshiphehadgot;

Advancingtow’rdsmefullofsorrowfulthought,

Bowinghisforeheadsothatnoneshouldsee.

ThenasIwent,hecalledmebymyname,

Saying:“Ijourneysincethemornwasdim

ThencewhereImadethyhearttobe:whichnow

Ineedsmustbearuntoanotherdame.”

Wherewithsomuchpassedintomeofhim

Thathewasgone,andIdiscernednothow.

Thissonnethasthreeparts.Inthefirstpart,ItellhowImetLove,andofhisaspect.Inthesecond,Itellwhathesaidtome,althoughnotinfull,throughthefearIhadofdiscoveringmysecret.Inthethird,Isayhowhedisappeared.Thesecondpartcommenceshere,“ThenasIwent;”thethirdhere,“Wherewithsomuch.”

Onmyreturn,IsetmyselftoseekoutthatladywhommymasterhadnamedtomewhileIjourneyedsighing.AndbecauseIwouldbebrief,IwillnownarratethatinashortwhileImadehermysurety,insuchsortthatthematterwasspokenofbymanyintermsscarcelycourteous;throughthewhichIhadoftenwhilesmanytroublesomehours.Andbythisithappened(towit:bythisfalseandevilrumourwhichseemedtomisfamemeofvice)thatshewhowasthedestroyerofallevilandthequeenofallgood,comingwhereIwas,deniedmehermostsweetsalutation,inthewhichalonewasmyblessedness.Andhereitisfittingformetodepartalittlefromthispresentmatter,thatitmayberightlyunderstoodofwhatsurpassingvirtuehersalutationwastome.TothewhichendIsaythatwhenshe

appearedinanyplace,itseemedtome,bythehopeofherexcellentsalutation,thattherewasnomanmineenemyanylonger;andsuchwarmthofcharitycameuponmethatmostcertainlyinthatmomentIwouldhavepardonedwhosoeverhaddonemeaninjury;andifoneshouldthenhavequestionedmeconcerninganymatter,Icouldonlyhavesaiduntohim“Love,”withacountenanceclothedinhumbleness.Andwhattimeshemadereadytosaluteme,thespiritofLove,destroyingallotherperceptions,thrustforththefeeblespiritsofmyeyes,saying,“Dohomageuntoyourmistress,”andputtingitselfintheirplacetoobey:sothathewhowould,mightthenhavebeheldLove,beholdingthelidsofmineeyesshake.Andwhenthismostgentleladygavehersalutation,Love,sofarfrombeingamediumbecloudingmineintolerablebeatitude,thenbredinmesuchanoverpoweringsweetnessthatmybody,beingallsubjectedthereto,remainedmanytimeshelplessandpassive.Wherebyitismademanifestthatinhersalutationalonewasthereanybeatitudeforme,whichthenveryoftenwentbeyondmyendurance.

Andnow,resumingmydiscourse,Iwillgoontorelatethatwhen,forthefirsttime,thisbeatitudewasdeniedme,Ibecamepossessedwithsuchgriefthat,partingmyselffromothers,Iwentintoalonelyplacetobathethegroundwithmostbittertears:andwhen,bythisheatofweeping,Iwassomewhatrelieved,Ibetookmyselftomychamber,whereIcouldlamentunheard.Andthere,havingprayedtotheLadyofallMercies,andhavingsaidalso,“OLove,aidthouthyservant,”Iwentsuddenlyasleeplikeabeatensobbingchild.Andinmysleep,towardsthemiddleofit,Iseemedtoseeintheroom,seatedatmyside,ayouthinverywhiteraiment,whokepthiseyesfixedonmeindeepthought.Andwhenhehadgazedsometime,Ithoughtthathesighedandcalledtomeinthesewords:“Filimi,tempusestutprætermittantursimulatanostra.”[16]AndthereuponIseemedtoknowhim;forthevoicewasthesamewherewithhehadspokenatothertimesinmysleep.Thenlookingathim,Iperceivedthathewasweepingpiteously,andthatheseemedtobewaitingformetospeak.Wherefore,takingheart,Ibeganthus:“Whyweepestthou,Masterofallhonour?”Andhemadeanswertome:“Egotanquamcentrumcirculi,cuisimilimodosehabentcircumferentiæpartes:tuautemnonsic.”[17]Andthinkinguponhiswords,theyseemedtomeobscure;sothatagaincompellingmyselfuntospeech,Iaskedofhim:“Whatthingisthis,Master,thatthouhastspokenthusdarkly?”Tothewhichhemadeanswerinthevulgartongue:“Demandnomorethanmaybeusefultothee.”WhereuponIbegantodiscoursewithhimconcerninghersalutationwhichshehaddeniedme;andwhenIhadquestionedhimofthecause,hesaidthesewords:“OurBeatricehathheardfromcertainpersons,thattheladywhomInamedtotheewhilethoujourneyedstfullofsighsissorelydisquietedbythysolicitations:andthereforethismostgraciouscreature,whoistheenemyofalldisquiet,beingfearfulofsuchdisquiet,refusedtosalutethee.Forthewhichreason(albeit,inverysooth,thysecretmustneedshavebecomeknowntoherbyfamiliarobservation)itismywillthatthoucomposecertainthingsinrhyme,inthewhichthoushaltsetforthhowstrongamastershipIhaveobtainedoverthee,throughher;andhowthouwasthersevenfromthychildhood.Alsodothoucalluponhimthatknoweththesethingstobearwitnesstothem,biddinghimtospeakwithherthereof;thewhichI,whoamhe,willdowillingly.Andthussheshallbemadetoknowthydesire;knowingwhich,sheshallknowlikewisethattheyweredeceivedwhospakeoftheetoher.Andsowritethesethings,thattheyshallseemrathertobespokenbyathirdperson;and

notdirectlybytheetoher,whichisscarcefitting.Afterthewhich,sendthem,notwithoutme,whereshemaychancetohearthem;buthavethemfittedwithapleasantmusic,intothewhichIwillpasswhensoeveritneedeth.”Withthisspeechhewasaway,andmysleepwasbrokenup.

Whereupon,rememberingme,IknewthatIhadbeheldthisvisionduringtheninthhouroftheday;andIresolvedthatIwouldmakeaditty,beforeIleftmychamber,accordingtothewordsmymasterhadspoken.AndthisisthedittythatImade:—

Song,’tismywillthatthoudoseekoutLove,

Andgowithhimwheremydearladyis;

Thatsomycause,thewhichthyharmonies

Doplead,hisbetterspeechmayclearlyprove.

Thougoest,mySong,insuchacourteouskind,

Thatevencompanionless

Thoumaystrelyonthyselfanywhere.

Andyet,anthouwouldstgettheeasafemind,

FirstuntoLoveaddress

Thysteps;whoseaid,mayhap,’twereilltospare,

Seeingthatshetowhomthoumak’stthyprayer

Is,asIthink,ill-mindeduntome,

AndthatifLovedonotcompanionthee,

Thou’lthaveperchancesmallcheertotellmeof.

Withasweetaccent,whenthoucom’sttoher,

Beginthouinthesewords,

Firsthavingcravedagraciousaudience:

“Hewhohathsentmeashismessenger,

Lady,thusmuchrecords,

Anthoubutsufferhim,inhisdefence.

Love,whocomeswithme,bythineinfluence

Canmakethismandoasitlikethhim:

Wherefore,ifthisfaultisordothbutseem

Dothouconceive:forhisheartcannotmove.”

Saytoheralso:“Lady,hispoorheart

Issoconfirmedinfaith

Thatallitsthoughtsarebutofservingthee:

’Twasearlythine,andcouldnotswerveapart.”

Then,ifshewavereth,

BidheraskLove,whoknowsifthesethingsbe.

Andintheend,begofhermodestly

Topardonsomuchboldness:sayingtoo:—

“Ifthoudeclarehisdeathtobethydue,

Thethingshallcometopass,asdothbehove.”

ThenpraythouoftheMasterofallruth,

Beforethouleaveherthere,

Thathebefriendmycauseandpleaditwell.

“Inguerdonofmysweetrhymesandmytruth”

(Entreathim)“staywithher;

Letnotthehopeofthypoorservantfail;

Andifwithherthypleadingshouldprevail,

Letherlookonhimandgivepeacetohim.”

GentlemySong,ifgoodtotheeitseem,

Dothis:soworshipshallbethineandlove.

Thisdittyisdividedintothreeparts.Inthefirst,Itellitwhithertogo,andIencourageit,thatitmaygothemoreconfidently,andItellitwhosecompanytojoinifitwouldgowithconfidenceandwithoutanydanger.Inthesecond,Isaythatwhichitbehovesthedittytosetforth.Inthethird,Igiveitleavetostartwhenitpleases,recommendingitscoursetothearmsofFortune.Thesecondpartbeginshere,“Withasweetaccent;”thethirdhere,“GentlemySong.”Somemightcontradictme,andsaythattheyunderstandnotwhomIaddressinthesecondperson,seeingthatthedittyismerelytheverywordsIamspeaking.AndthereforeIsaythatthisdoubtIintendtosolveandclearupinthislittlebookitself,atamoredifficultpassage,andthenlethimunderstandwhonowdoubts,orwouldnowcontradictasaforesaid.

AfterthisvisionIhaverecorded,andhavingwrittenthosewordswhichLovehaddictatedtome,Ibegantobeharassedwithmanyanddiversthoughts,byeachofwhichIwassorelytempted;andinespecial,therewerefouramongthemthatleftmenorest.Thefirstwasthis:“CertainlythelordshipofLoveisgood;seeingthatitdivertsthemindfromallmeanthings.”Thesecondwasthis:“CertainlythelordshipofLoveisevil;seeingthatthemorehomagehisservantspaytohim,themoregrievousandpainfularethetormentswherewithhetormentsthem.”Thethirdwasthis:“ThenameofLoveissosweetinthehearingthatitwouldnotseempossibleforitseffectstobeotherthansweet;seeingthat

thenamemustneedsbelikeuntothethingnamed;asitiswritten:Nominasuntconsequentiarerum.”[18]Andthefourthwasthis:“TheladywhomLovehathchosenouttogoverntheeisnotasotherladies,whoseheartsareeasilymoved.”

AndbyeachoneofthesethoughtsIwassosorelyassailedthatIwaslikeuntohimwhodoubtethwhichpathtotake,andwishingtogo,goethnot.AndifIbethoughtmyselftoseekoutsomepointatthewhichallthesepathsmightbefoundtomeet,Idiscernedbutoneway,andthatirkedme;towit,tocalluponPity,andtocommendmyselfuntoher.Anditwasthenthat,feelingadesiretowritesomewhatthereofinrhyme,Iwrotethissonnet:—

AllmythoughtsalwaysspeaktomeofLove,

Yethavebetweenthemselvessuchdifference

Thatwhileonebidsmebowwithmindandsense,

Asecondsaith,“Goto:lookthouabove;”

Thethirdone,hoping,yieldsmejoyenough;

Andwiththelastcometears,Iscarceknowwhence:

Allofthemcravingpityinsoresuspense,

Tremblingwithfearsthattheheartknowethof.

Andthus,beingallunsurewhichpathtotake,

WishingtospeakIknownotwhattosay,

Andlosemyselfinamorouswanderings:

Until,(mypeacewithallofthemtomake,)

UntomineenemyIneedsmustpray,

MyLadyPity,forthehelpshebrings.

Thissonnetmaybedividedintofourparts.Inthefirst,IsayandpropoundthatallmythoughtsareconcerningLove.Inthesecond,Isaythattheyarediverse,andIrelatetheirdiversity.Inthethird,Isaywhereintheyallseemtoagree.Inthefourth,Isaythat,wishingtospeakofLove,Iknownotfromwhichofthesethoughtstotakemyargument;andthatifIwouldtakeitfromall,Ishallhavetocalluponmineenemy,myLadyPity.“Lady”Isay,asinascornfulmodeofspeech.Thesecondbeginshere,“Yethavebetweenthemselves;”thethird,“Allofthemcraving;”thefourth,“Andthus.”

Afterthisbattlingwithmanythoughts,itchancedonadaythatmymostgraciousladywaswithagatheringofladiesinacertainplace;tothewhichIwasconductedbyafriendofmine;hethinkingtodomeagreatpleasurebyshowingmethebeautyofsomanywomen.ThenI,hardlyknowingwhereuntoheconductedme,buttrustinginhim(whoyetwasleadinghisfriendtothelastvergeoflife),madequestion:“Towhatendarewecomeamongtheseladies?”andheanswered:“Totheendthattheymaybeworthilyserved.”Andtheywereassembledaroundagentlewomanwhowasgiveninmarriageonthatday;

thecustomofthecitybeingthattheseshouldbearhercompanywhenshesatdownforthefirsttimeattableinthehouseofherhusband.ThereforeI,aswasmyfriend’spleasure,resolvedtostaywithhimanddohonourtothoseladies.

ButassoonasIhadthusresolved,Ibegantofeelafaintnessandathrobbingatmyleftside,whichsoontookpossessionofmywholebody.WhereuponIrememberthatIcovertlyleanedmybackuntoapaintingthatranroundthewallsofthathouse;andbeingfearfullestmytremblingshouldbediscernedofthem,Iliftedmineeyestolookonthoseladies,andthenfirstperceivedamongthemtheexcellentBeatrice.AndwhenIperceivedher,allmysenseswereoverpoweredbythegreatlordshipthatLoveobtained,findinghimselfsonearuntothatmostgraciousbeing,untilnothingbutthespiritsofsightremainedtome;andeventheseremaineddrivenoutoftheirowninstrumentsbecauseLoveenteredinthathonouredplaceoftheirs,thatsohemightthebetterbeholdher.AndalthoughIwasotherthanatfirst,Igrievedforthespiritssoexpelled,whichkeptupasorelament,saying:“Ifhehadnotinthiswisethrustusforth,wealsoshouldbeholdthemarvelofthislady.”Bythis,manyofherfriends,havingdiscernedmyconfusion,begantowonder;andtogetherwithherself,keptwhisperingofmeandmockingme.Whereuponmyfriend,whoknewnotwhattoconceive,tookmebythehands,anddrawingmeforthfromamongthem,requiredtoknowwhatailedme.Then,havingfirstheldmeatquietforaspaceuntilmyperceptionswerecomebacktome,Imadeanswertomyfriend:“OfasuretyIhavenowsetmyfeetonthatpointoflife,beyondthewhichhemustnotpasswhowouldreturn.”[19]

Afterwards,leavinghim,IwentbacktotheroomwhereIhadweptbefore;andagainweepingandashamed,said:“Ifthisladybutknewofmycondition,Idonotthinkthatshewouldthusmockatme;nay,Iamsurethatshemustneedsfeelsomepity.”AndinmyweepingIbethoughtmetowritecertainwords,inthewhich,speakingtoher,Ishouldsignifytheoccasionofmydisfigurement,tellingheralsohowIknewthatshehadnoknowledgethereof:which,ifitwereknown,Iwascertainmustmoveotherstopity.Andthen,becauseIhopedthatperadventureitmightcomeintoherhearing,Iwrotethissonnet:—

Evenastheothersmock,thoumockestme;

Notdreaming,noblelady,whenceitis

ThatIamtakenwithstrangesemblances,

Seeingthyfacewhichissofairtosee:

Forelse,compassionwouldnotsufferthee

Togrievemyheartwithsuchharshscoffsasthese.

Lo!Love,whenthouartpresent,sitsatease,

Andbearshismastershipsomightily,

Thatallmytroubledsenseshethrustsout,

Sorelytormentingsome,andslayingsome,

Tillnonebutheisleftandhasfreerange

Togazeonthee.Thismakesmyfacetochange

Intoanother’s;whileIstandalldumb,

Andhearmysensesclamourintheirrout.

ThissonnetIdividenotintoparts,becauseadivisionisonlymadetoopenthemeaningofthethingdivided:andthis,asitissufficientlymanifestthroughthereasonsgiven,hasnoneedofdivision.Trueitisthat,amidthewordswherebyisshowntheoccasionofthissonnet,dubiouswordsaretobefound;namely,whenIsaythatLovekillsallmyspirits,butthatthevisualremaininlife,onlyoutsideoftheirowninstruments.AndthisdifficultyitisimpossibleforanytosolvewhoisnotinequalguiseliegeuntoLove;and,tothosewhoareso,thatismanifestwhichwouldclearupthedubiouswords.Andthereforeitwerenotwellformetoexpoundthisdifficulty,inasmuchasmyspeakingwouldbeeitherfruitlessorelsesuperfluous.

Awhileafterthisstrangedisfigurement,Ibecamepossessedwithastrongconceptionwhichleftmebutveryseldom,andthentoreturnquickly.Anditwasthis:“Seeingthatthoucomestintosuchscornbythecompanionshipofthislady,whereforeseekestthoutobeholdher?Ifsheshouldasktheethisthing,whatanswercouldstthoumakeuntoher?yea,eventhoughthouwertmasterofallthyfaculties,andinnowayhinderedfromanswering.”Untothewhich,anotherveryhumblethoughtsaidinreply:“IfIweremasterofallmyfaculties,andinnowayhinderedfromanswering,IwouldtellherthatnosoonerdoIimagetomyselfhermarvellousbeautythanIampossessedwithadesiretobeholdher,thewhichisofsogreatstrengththatitkillsanddestroysinmymemoryallthosethingswhichmightopposeit;anditisthereforethatthegreatanguishIhaveenduredtherebyisyetnotenoughtorestrainmefromseekingtobeholdher.”Andthen,becauseofthesethoughts,Iresolvedtowritesomewhat,wherein,havingpleadedmineexcuse,IshouldtellherofwhatIfeltinherpresence.WhereuponIwrotethissonnet:—

Thethoughtsarebrokeninmymemory,

ThoulovelyJoy,whene’erIseethyface;

Whenthouartnearme,Lovefillsupthespace,

Oftenrepeating,“Ifdeathirkthee,fly.”

Myfaceshowsmyheart’scolour,verily,

Which,fainting,seeksforanyleaning-place;

Till,inthedrunkenterrorofdisgrace,

Theverystonesseemtobeshrieking,“Die!”

Itwereagrievoussin,ifoneshouldnot

Strivethentocomfortmybewilderedmind

(Thoughmerelywithasimplepitying)

Forthegreatanguishwhichthyscornhaswrought

Inthedeadsighto’theeyesgrownnearlyblind,

Whichlookfordeathasforablessedthing.

Thissonnetisdividedintotwoparts.Inthefirst,ItellthecausewhyIabstainnotfromcomingtothislady.Inthesecond,Itellwhatbefallsmethroughcomingtoher;andthispartbeginshere“Whenthouartnear.”Andalsothissecondpartdividesintofivedistinctstatements.For,inthefirst,IsaywhatLove,counselledbyReason,tellsmewhenIamnearthelady.Inthesecond,Isetforththestateofmyheartbytheexampleoftheface.Inthethird,Isayhowallgroundoftrustfailsme.Inthefourth,Isaythathesinswhoshowsnotpityofme,whichwouldgivemesomecomfort.Inthelast,Isaywhypeopleshouldtakepity:namely,forthepiteouslookwhichcomesintomineeyes;whichpiteouslookisdestroyed,thatis,appearethnotuntoothers,throughthejeeringofthislady,whodrawstothelikeactionthosewhoperadventurewouldseethispiteousness.Thesecondpartbeginshere,“Myfaceshows;”thethird,“Till,inthedrunkenterror;”thefourth,“Itwereagrievoussin;”thefifth,“Forthegreatanguish.”

Thereafter,thissonnetbredinmedesiretowritedowninversefourotherthingstouchingmycondition,thewhichthingsitseemedtomethatIhadnotyetmademanifest.Thefirstamongthesewasthegriefthatpossessedmeveryoften,rememberingthestrangenesswhichLovewroughtinme;thesecondwas,howLovemanytimesassailedmesosuddenlyandwithsuchstrengththatIhadnootherliferemainingexceptathoughtwhichspakeofmylady;thethirdwas,how,whenLovedidbattlewithmeinthiswise,Iwouldriseupallcolourless,ifsoImightseemylady,conceivingthatthesightofherwoulddefendmeagainsttheassaultofLove,andaltogetherforgettingthatwhichherpresencebroughtuntome;andthefourthwas,how,whenIsawher,thesightnotonlydefendedmenot,buttookawaythelittlelifethatremainedtome.AndIsaidthesefourthingsinasonnet,whichisthis:—

Atwhiles(yeaoftentimes)Imuseover

Thequalityofanguishthatismine

ThroughLove:thenpitymakesmyvoicetopine,

Saying,“Isanyelsethus,anywhere?”

Lovesmitethme,whosestrengthisilltobear;

Sothatofallmylifeisleftnosign

Exceptonethought;andthat,because’tisthine,

Leavesnotthebodybutabideththere.

AndthenifI,whomotheraidforsook,

Wouldaidmyself,andinnocentofart

Wouldfainhavesightoftheeasalasthope,

NosoonerdoIliftmineeyestolook

Thanthebloodseemsasshakenfrommyheart,

Andallmypulsesbeatatonceandstop.

Thissonnetisdividedintofourparts,fourthingsbeingthereinnarrated;andasthesearesetforthabove,Ionlyproceedtodistinguishthepartsbytheirbeginnings.WhereforeIsaythatthesecondpartbegins,“Lovesmitethme;”thethird,“AndthenifI;”thefourth,“NosoonerdoIlift.”

AfterIhadwrittenthesethreelastsonnets,whereinIspakeuntomylady,tellingheralmostthewholeofmycondition,itseemedtomethatIshouldbesilent,havingsaidenoughconcerningmyself.ButalbeitIspakenottoheragain,yetitbehovedmeafterwardtowriteofanothermatter,morenoblethantheforegoing.AndforthattheoccasionofwhatIthenwrotemaybefoundpleasantinthehearing,IwillrelateitasbrieflyasImay.

Throughthesorechangeinmineaspect,thesecretofmyheartwasnowunderstoodofmany.Whichthingbeingthus,therecameadaywhencertainladiestowhomitwaswellknown(theyhavingbeenwithmeatdiverstimesinmytrouble)weremettogetherforthepleasureofgentlecompany.AndasIwasgoingthatwaybychance,(butIthinkratherbythewilloffortune,)Iheardoneofthemcalluntome,andshethatcalledwasaladyofverysweetspeech.AndwhenIhadcomecloseupwiththem,andperceivedthattheyhadnotamongthemmineexcellentlady,Iwasreassured;andsalutedthem,askingoftheirpleasure.Theladiesweremany;diversofwhomwerelaughingonetoanother,whilediversgazedatmeasthoughIshouldspeakanon.ButwhenIstillspakenot,oneofthem,whobeforehadbeentalkingwithanother,addressedmebymyname,saying,“Towhatendlovestthouthislady,seeingthatthoucanstnotsupportherpresence?Nowtellusthisthing,thatwemayknowit:forcertainlytheendofsuchalovemustbeworthyofknowledge.”Andwhenshehadspokenthesewords,notsheonly,butalltheythatwerewithher,begantoobserveme,waitingformyreply.WhereuponIsaidthusuntothem:—”Ladies,theendandaimofmyLovewasbutthesalutationofthatladyofwhomIconceivethatyearespeaking;whereinaloneIfoundthatbeatitudewhichisthegoalofdesire.Andnowthatithathpleasedhertodenymethis,Love,myMaster,ofhisgreatgoodness,hathplacedallmybeatitudetherewheremyhopewillnotfailme.”Thenthoseladiesbegantotalkcloselytogether;andasIhaveseensnowfallamongtherain,sowastheirtalkmingledwithsighs.Butafteralittle,thatladywhohadbeenthefirsttoaddressme,addressedmeagaininthesewords:“Wepraytheethatthouwilttelluswhereinabideththisthybeatitude.”Andanswering,Isaidbutthusmuch:“Inthosewordsthatdopraisemylady.”Tothewhichsherejoined:“Ifthyspeechweretrue,thosewordsthatthoudidstwriteconcerningthyconditionwouldhavebeenwrittenwithanotherintent.”

ThenI,beingalmostputtoshamebecauseofheranswer,wentoutfromamongthem;andasIwalked,Isaidwithinmyself:“Seeingthatthereissomuchbeatitudeinthosewordswhichdopraisemylady,whereforehathmyspeechofherbeendifferent?”AndthenIresolvedthatthenceforwardIwouldchooseforthethemeofmywritingsonlythepraiseofthismostgraciousbeing.ButwhenIhadthoughtexceedingly,itseemedtomethatIhadtakentomyselfathemewhichwasmuchtoolofty,sothatIdarednotbegin;andI

remainedduringseveraldaysinthedesireofspeaking,andthefearofbeginning.Afterwhichithappened,asIpassedonedayalongapathwhichlaybesideastreamofveryclearwater,thattherecameuponmeagreatdesiretosaysomewhatinrhyme:butwhenIbeganthinkinghowIshouldsayit,methoughtthattospeakofherwereunseemly,unlessIspoketootherladiesinthesecondperson;whichistosay,nottoanyotherladies,butonlytosuchasaresocalledbecausetheyaregentle,letaloneformerewomanhood.WhereuponIdeclarethatmytonguespakeasthoughbyitsownimpulse,andsaid,“Ladiesthathaveintelligenceinlove.”ThesewordsIlaidupinmymindwithgreatgladness,conceivingtotakethemasmycommencement.Wherefore,havingreturnedtothecityIspakeof,andconsideredthereofduringcertaindays,Ibeganapoemwiththisbeginning,constructedinthemodewhichwillbeseenbelowinitsdivision.Thepoembeginshere:—

Ladiesthathaveintelligenceinlove,

OfmineownladyIwouldspeakwithyou;

NotthatIhopetocountherpraisesthrough,

ButtellingwhatImay,toeasemymind.

AndIdeclarethatwhenIspeakthereof,

Loveshedssuchperfectsweetnessoverme

Thatifmycouragefailednot,certainly

Tohimmylistenersmustbeallresign’d.

WhereforeIwillnotspeakinsuchlargekind

Thatmineownspeechshouldfoilme,whichwerebase;

Butonlywilldiscourseofherhighgrace

Inthesepoorwords,thebestthatIcanfind,

Withyoualone,deardamesanddamozels:

’Twereilltospeakthereofwithanyelse.

AnAngel,ofhisblessedknowledge,saith

ToGod:“Lord,intheworldthatThouhastmade,

Amiracleinactionisdisplay’d,

Byreasonofasoulwhosesplendoursfare

Evenhither:andsinceHeavenrequireth

Noughtsavingher,forheritprayethThee,

ThySaintscryingaloudcontinually.”

YetPitystilldefendsourearthlyshare

Inthatsweetsoul;Godansweringthustheprayer:

“Mywell-belovèd,sufferthatinpeace

Yourhoperemain,whilesoMypleasureis,

Therewhereonedwellswhodreadsthelossofher:

AndwhoinHelluntothedoomedshallsay,

‘IhavelookedonthatforwhichGod’schosenpray.’”

MyladyisdesiredinthehighHeaven:

Wherefore,itnowbehovethmetotell,

Saying:Letanymaidthatwouldbewell

Esteemedkeepwithher:forasshegoesby,

Intofoulheartsadeathlychillisdriven

ByLove,thatmakesillthoughttoperishthere:

Whileanywhoendurestogazeonher

Musteitherbeennobled,orelsedie.

Whenonedeservingtoberaisedsohigh

Isfound,’tisthenherpowerattainsitsproof,

Makinghisheartstrongforhissoul’sbehoof

Withthefullstrengthofmeekhumility.

Alsothisvirtueownsshe,byGod’swill:

Whospeakswithhercannevercometoill.

Lovesaithconcerningher:“Howchancethit

Thatflesh,whichisofdust,shouldbethuspure?”

Then,gazingalways,hemakesoath:“Forsure,

ThisisacreatureofGodtillnowunknown.”

Shehaththatpalenessofthepearlthat’sfit

Inafairwoman,somuchandnotmore;

SheisashighasNature’sskillcansoar;

Beautyistriedbyhercomparison.

Whateverhersweeteyesareturnedupon,

Spiritsoflovedoissuethenceinflame,

Whichthroughtheireyeswhothenmaylookonthem

Piercetotheheart’sdeepchambereveryone.

AndinhersmileLove’simageyoumaysee;

Whencenonecangazeuponhersteadfastly.

DearSong,Iknowthouwiltholdgentlespeech

Withmanyladies,whenIsendtheeforth:

Wherefore(beingmindfulthatthouhadstthybirth

FromLove,andartamodest,simplechild),

Whomsothoumeetest,saythouthistoeach:

“Givemegoodspeed!ToherIwendalong

Inwhosemuchstrengthmyweaknessismadestrong.”

Andif,i’theend,thouwouldstnotbebeguiled

Ofallthylabour,seeknotthedefiled

Andcommonsort;butratherchoosetobe

Wheremanandwomandwellincourtesy.

Sototheroadthoushaltbereconciled,

Andfindthelady,andwiththelady,Love.

Commendthoumetoeach,asdothbehove.

Thispoem,thatitmaybebetterunderstood,Iwilldividemoresubtlythantheotherspreceding;andthereforeIwillmakethreepartsofit.Thefirstpartisaproemtothewordsfollowing.Thesecondisthemattertreatedof.Thethirdis,asitwere,ahandmaidtotheprecedingwords.Thesecondbeginshere,“AnAngel;”thethirdhere,“DearSong,Iknow.”Thefirstpartisdividedintofour.Inthefirst,IsaytowhomImeantospeakofmylady,andwhereforeIwillsospeak.Inthesecond,IsaywhatsheappearstomyselftobewhenIreflectuponherexcellence,andwhatIwouldutterifIlostnotcourage.Inthethird,IsaywhatitisIpurposetospeaksoasnottobeimpededbyfaintheartedness.Inthefourth,repeatingtowhomIpurposespeaking,ItellthereasonwhyIspeaktothem.Thesecondbeginshere,“AndIdeclare;”thethirdhere,“WhereforeIwillnotspeak;”thefourthhere,“Withyoualone.”Then,whenIsay“AnAngel,”Ibegintreatingofthislady:andthispartisdividedintotwo.Inthefirst,Itellwhatisunderstoodofherinheaven.Inthesecond,Itellwhatisunderstoodofheronearth:here,“Myladyisdesired.”Thissecondpartisdividedintotwo;for,inthefirst,Ispeakofherasregardsthenoblenessofhersoul,relatingsomeofhervirtuesproceedingfromhersoul;inthesecond,Ispeakofherasregardsthenoblenessofherbody,narratingsomeofherbeauties:here,“Lovesaithconcerningher.”Thissecondpartisdividedintotwo,for,inthefirst,Ispeakofcertainbeautieswhichbelongtothewholeperson;inthesecond,Ispeakofcertainbeautieswhichbelongtoadistinctpartoftheperson:here,“Whateverhersweeteyes.”Thissecondpartisdividedintotwo;for,intheone,Ispeakoftheeyes,whicharethebeginningoflove;inthesecond,Ispeakofthemouth,whichistheendoflove.Andthat

everyviciousthoughtmaybediscardedherefrom,letthereaderrememberthatitisabovewrittenthatthegreetingofthislady,whichwasanactofhermouth,wasthegoalofmydesires,whileIcouldreceiveit.Then,whenIsay,“DearSong,Iknow,”Iaddastanzaasitwerehandmaidtotheothers,whereinIsaywhatIdesirefromthismypoem.Andbecausethislastpartiseasytounderstand,Itroublenotmyselfwithmoredivisions.Isay,indeed,thatthefurthertoopenthemeaningofthispoem,moreminutedivisionsoughttobeused;butneverthelesshewhoisnotofwitenoughtounderstanditbythesewhichhavebeenalreadymadeiswelcometoleaveitalone;forcertes,IfearIhavecommunicateditssensetotoomanybythesepresentdivisions,ifitsohappenedthatmanyshouldhearit.

Whenthissongwasalittlegoneabroad,acertainoneofmyfriends,hearingthesame,waspleasedtoquestionme,thatIshouldtellhimwhatthingloveis;itmaybe,conceivingfromthewordsthusheardahopeofmebeyondmydesert.WhereforeI,thinkingthataftersuchdiscourseitwerewelltosaysomewhatofthenatureofLove,andalsoinaccordancewithmyfriend’sdesire,proposedtomyselftowritecertainwordsinthewhichIshouldtreatofthisargument.AndthesonnetthatIthenmadeisthis:—

Loveandthegentleheartareonesamething,

Evenasthewiseman[20]inhisdittysaith:

Each,ofitself,wouldbesuchlifeindeath

Asrationalsoulbereftofreasoning.

’TisNaturemakesthemwhensheloves:aking

Loveis,whosepalacewherehesojourneth

IscalledtheHeart;theredrawshequietbreath

Atfirst,withbrieforlongerslumbering.

Thenbeautyseeninvirtuouswomankind

Willmaketheeyesdesire,andthroughtheheart

Sendthedesiringoftheeyesagain;

Whereoftenitabidessolongenshrin’d

ThatLoveatlengthoutofhissleepwillstart.

Andwomenfeelthesameforworthymen.

Thissonnetisdividedintotwoparts.Inthefirst,Ispeakofhimaccordingtohispower.Inthesecond,Ispeakofhimaccordingashispowertranslatesitselfintoact.Thesecondpartbeginshere,“Thenbeautyseen.”Thefirstisdividedintotwo.Inthefirst,Isayinwhatsubjectthispowerexists.Inthesecond,Isayhowthissubjectandthispowerareproducedtogether,andhowtheoneregardstheother,asformdoesmatter.Thesecondbeginshere,“’TisNature.”AfterwardswhenIsay,“Thenbeautyseeninvirtuouswomankind,”Isayhowthispowertranslatesitselfintoact;and,first,howitsotranslatesitselfinaman,thenhowitsotranslatesitselfinawoman:here,“Andwomenfeel.”

Havingtreatedofloveintheforegoing,itappearedtomethatIshouldalsosaysomethinginpraiseofmylady,whereinitmightbesetforthhowlovemanifesteditselfwhenproducedbyher;andhownotonlyshecouldawakenitwhereitslept,butwhereitwasnotshecouldmarvellouslycreateit.TothewhichendIwroteanothersonnet;anditisthis:—

Myladycarrieslovewithinhereyes;

Allthatshelooksonismadepleasanter;

Uponherpathmenturntogazeather;

Hewhomshegreetethfeelshishearttorise,

Anddroopshistroubledvisage,fullofsighs,

Andofhisevilheartisthenaware:

Hateloves,andpridebecomesaworshipper.

Owomen,helptopraiseherinsomewise.

Humbleness,andthehopethathopethwell,

Byspeechofhersintothemindarebrought,

Andwhobeholdsisblessèdoftenwhiles.

Thelookshehathwhenshealittlesmiles

Cannotbesaid,norholdeninthethought;

’Tissuchanewandgraciousmiracle.

Thissonnethasthreesections.Inthefirst,Isayhowthisladybringsthispowerintoactionbythosemostnoblefeatures,hereyes;and,inthethird,Isaythissameastothatmostnoblefeature,hermouth.Andbetweenthesetwosectionsisalittlesection,whichasks,asitwere,helpfortheprevioussectionandthesubsequent;anditbeginshere,“Owomen,help.”Thethirdbeginshere,“Humbleness.”Thefirstisdividedintothree;for,inthefirst,Isayhowshewithpowermakesnoblethatwhichshelooksupon;andthisisasmuchastosaythatshebringsLove,inpower,thitherwhereheisnot.Inthesecond,IsayhowshebringsLove,inact,intotheheartsofallthosewhomshesees.Inthethird,Itellwhatsheafterwards,withvirtue,operatesupontheirhearts.Thesecondbegins,“Uponherpath;”thethird,“Hewhomshegreeteth.”Then,whenIsay,“Owomen,help,”Iintimatetowhomitismyintentiontospeak,callingonwomentohelpmetohonourher.Then,whenIsay,“Humbleness,”Isaythatsamewhichissaidinthefirstpart,regardingtwoactsofhermouth,onewhereofishermostsweetspeech,andtheotherhermarvelloussmile.Only,Isaynotofthislasthowitoperatesupontheheartsofothers,becausememorycannotretainthissmile,noritsoperation.

Notmanydaysafterthis(itbeingthewillofthemostHighGod,whoalsofromHimselfputnotawaydeath),thefatherofwonderfulBeatrice,goingoutofthislife,passedcertainlyintoglory.Therebyithappened,asofverysoothitmightnotbeotherwise,that

thisladywasmadefullofthebitternessofgrief:seeingthatsuchapartingisverygrievousuntothosefriendswhoareleft,andthatnootherfriendshipisliketothatbetweenagoodparentandagoodchild;andfurthermoreconsideringthatthisladywasgoodinthesupremedegree,andherfather(asbymanyithathbeentrulyaverred)ofexceedinggoodness.Andbecauseitistheusageofthatcitythatmenmeetwithmeninsuchagrief,andwomenwithwomen,certainladiesofhercompanionshipgatheredthemselvesuntoBeatrice,whereshekeptaloneinherweeping:andastheypassedinandout,Icouldhearthemspeakconcerningher,howshewept.Atlengthtwoofthemwentbyme,whosaid:“Certainlyshegrievethinsuchsortthatonemightdieforpity,beholdingher.”Then,feelingthetearsuponmyface,Iputupmyhandstohidethem:andhaditnotbeenthatIhopedtohearmoreconcerningher(seeingthatwhereIsat,herfriendspassedcontinuallyinandout),Ishouldassuredlyhavegonethencetobealone,whenIfeltthetearscome.ButasIstillsatinthatplace,certainladiesagainpassednearme,whoweresayingamongthemselves:“Whichofusshallbejoyfulanymore,whohavelistenedtothisladyinherpiteoussorrow?”Andtherewereotherswhosaidastheywentbyme:“Hethatsittethherecouldnotweepmoreifhehadbeheldheraswehavebeheldher;”andagain:“Heissoalteredthatheseemethnotashimself.”Andstillastheladiespassedtoandfro,Icouldhearthemspeakafterthisfashionofherandofme.

Whereforeafterwards,havingconsideredandperceivingthattherewashereinmatterforpoesy,IresolvedthatIwouldwritecertainrhymesinthewhichshouldbecontainedallthatthoseladieshadsaid.AndbecauseIwouldwillinglyhavespokentothemifithadnotbeenfordiscreetness,ImadeinmyrhymesasthoughIhadspokenandtheyhadansweredme.AndthereofIwrotetwosonnets;inthefirstofwhichIaddressedthemasIwouldfainhavedone;andinthesecondrelatedtheiranswer,usingthespeechthatIhadheardfromthem,asthoughithadbeenspokenuntomyself.Andthesonnetsarethese:—

I.Youthatthuswearamodestcountenance

Withlidsweigh’ddownbytheheart’sheaviness,

Whencecomeyou,thatamongyoueveryface

Appearsthesame,foritspaletroubledglance?

Haveyoubeheldmylady’sface,perchance,

Bow’dwiththegriefthatLovemakesfullofgrace?

Saynow,“Thisthingisthus;”asmyheartsays,

Markingyourgraveandsorrowfuladvance.

Andifindeedyoucomefromwhereshesighs

Andmourns,mayitpleaseyou(forhisheart’srelief)

Totellhowitfareswithheruntohim

Whoknowsthatyouhavewept,seeingyoureyes,

Andissogrievedwithlookingonyourgrief

Thathishearttremblesandhissightgrowsdim.

Thissonnetisdividedintotwoparts.Inthefirst,Icallandasktheseladieswhethertheycomefromher,tellingthemthatIthinktheydo,becausetheyreturnthenobler.Inthesecond,Ipraythemtotellmeofher;andthesecondbeginshere,“Andifindeed.”

II.Canstthouindeedbehethatstillwouldsing

Ofourdearladyuntononebutus?

Forthoughthyvoiceconfirmsthatitisthus,

Thyvisagemightanotherwitnessbring.

Andwhereforeisthygriefsosoreathing

Thatgrievingthoumak’stothersdolorous?

Hastthoutooseenherweep,thatthoufromus

Canstnotconcealthineinwardsorrowing?

Nay,leaveourwoetous:letusalone:

’Tweresinifoneshouldstrivetosootheourwoe,

Forinherweepingwehaveheardherspeak:

Alsoherlook’ssofullofherheart’smoan

Thattheywhoshouldbeholdher,lookingso,

Mustfallaswoon,feelingalllifegrowweak.

Thissonnethasfourparts,astheladiesinwhosepersonIreplyhadfourformsofanswer.And,becausethesearesufficientlyshownabove,Istaynottoexplainthepurportoftheparts,andthereforeIonlydiscriminatethem.Thesecondbeginshere,“Andwhereforeisthygrief;”thethirdhere,“Nay,leaveourwoe;”thefourth,“Alsoherlook.”

Afewdaysafterthis,mybodybecameafflictedwithapainfulinfirmity,wherebyIsufferedbitteranguishformanydays,whichatlastbroughtmeuntosuchweaknessthatIcouldnolongermove.AndIrememberthatontheninthday,beingovercomewithintolerablepain,athoughtcameintomymindconcerningmylady:butwhenithadalittlenourishedthisthought,mymindreturnedtoitsbroodingovermineenfeebledbody.Andthenperceivinghowfrailathinglifeis,eventhoughhealthkeepwithit,thematterseemedtomesopitifulthatIcouldnotchoosebutweep;andweepingIsaidwithinmyself:“CertainlyitmustsometimecometopassthattheverygentleBeatricewilldie.”Then,feelingbewildered,Iclosedmineeyes;andmybrainbegantobeintravailasthebrainofonefrantic,andtohavesuchimaginationsasherefollow.Andatthefirst,itseemedtomethatIsawcertainfacesofwomenwiththeirhairloosened,whichcalledouttome,“Thoushaltsurelydie;”afterthewhich,otherterribleandunknownappearancessaiduntome,“Thouartdead.”Atlength,asmyphantasyheldoninitswanderings,IcametobeIknewnotwhere,andtobeholdathrongofdishevelledladieswonderfullysad,whokeptgoinghitherandthitherweeping.Thenthesunwentout,sothatthestarsshowedthemselves,andtheywereofsuchacolourthatIknewtheymustbeweeping:anditseemedtomethatthebirdsfelldeadoutofthesky,andthatthereweregreatearthquakes.Withthat,whileIwonderedinmytrance,andwasfilledwithagrievousfear,Iconceivedthatacertainfriendcameuntomeandsaid:“Hastthounotheard?Shethatwasthineexcellentladyhathbeentakenoutoflife.”ThenIbegantoweepverypiteously;andnotonlyinmineimagination,butwithmineeyes,whichwerewetwithtears.AndIseemedtolooktowardsHeaven,andtobeholdamultitudeofangelswhowerereturningupwards,havingbeforethemanexceedinglywhitecloud:andtheseangelsweresingingtogethergloriously,andthewordsoftheirsongwerethese:“Osannainexcelsis;”andtherewasnomorethatIheard.Thenmyheartthatwassofulloflovesaiduntome:“Itistruethatourladyliethdead;”anditseemedtomethatIwenttolookuponthebodywhereinthatblessedandmostnoblespirithadhaditsabiding-place.Andsostrongwasthisidleimagining,thatitmademetobeholdmyladyindeath;whoseheadcertainladiesseemedtobecoveringwithawhiteveil;andwhowassohumbleofheraspectthatitwasasthoughshehadsaid,“Ihaveattainedtolookonthebeginningofpeace.”AndtherewithalIcameuntosuchhumilitybythesightofher,thatIcriedoutuponDeath,saying:“Nowcomeuntome,andbenotbitteragainstmeanylonger:surely,therewherethouhastbeen,thouhastlearnedgentleness.Whereforecomenowuntomewhodogreatlydesirethee:seestthounotthatIwearthycolouralready?”AndwhenIhadseenallthoseofficesperformedthatarefittingtobedoneuntothedead,itseemedtomethatIwentbackuntomineownchamber,andlookeduptowardsHeaven.Andsostrongwasmyphantasy,thatIweptagaininverytruth,andsaidwithmytruevoice:“Oexcellentsoul!howblessedishethatnowlookethuponthee!”

AndasIsaidthesewords,withapainfulanguishofsobbingandanotherprayeruntoDeath,ayoungandgentlelady,whohadbeenstandingbesidemewhereIlay,conceivingthatIweptandcriedoutbecauseofthepainofmineinfirmity,wastakenwithtremblingandbegantoshedtears.Wherebyotherladies,whowereabouttheroom,becomingawareofmydiscomfortbyreasonofthemoanthatshemade,(whoindeedwasofmyverynear

kindred,)ledherawayfromwhereIwas,andthensetthemselvestoawakenme,thinkingthatIdreamed,andsaying:“Sleepnolonger,andbenotdisquieted.”

Then,bytheirwords,thisstrongimaginationwasbroughtsuddenlytoanend,atthemomentthatIwasabouttosay,“OBeatrice!peacebewiththee.”AndalreadyIhadsaid,“OBeatrice!”whenbeingaroused,Iopenedmineeyes,andknewthatithadbeenadeception.ButalbeitIhadindeedutteredhername,yetmyvoicewassobrokenwithsobs,thatitwasnotunderstoodbytheseladies;sothatinspiteofthesoreshamethatIfelt,IturnedtowardsthembyLove’scounselling.Andwhentheybeheldme,theybegantosay,“Heseemethasonedead,”andtowhisperamongthemselves,“Letusstriveifwemaynotcomforthim.”Whereupontheyspaketomemanysoothingwords,andquestionedmemoreovertouchingthecauseofmyfear.ThenI,beingsomewhatreassured,andhavingperceivedthatitwasamerephantasy,saiduntothem,“Thisthingitwasthatmademeafeard;”andtoldthemofallthatIhadseen,fromthebeginningevenuntotheend,butwithoutoncespeakingthenameofmylady.Also,afterIhadrecoveredfrommysickness,Ibethoughtmetowritethesethingsinrhyme;deemingitalovelythingtobeknown.WhereofIwrotethispoem:—

Averypitifullady,veryyoung,

Exceedingrichinhumansympathies,

Stoodby,whattimeIclamour’duponDeath;

Andatthewildwordswanderingonmytongue

Andatthepiteouslookwithinmineeyes

Shewasaffrighted,thatsobschokedherbreath.

SobyherweepingwhereIlaybeneath,

Someothergentleladiescametoknow

Mystate,andmadehergo:

Afterward,bendingthemselvesoverme,

Onesaid,“Awakenthee!”

Andone,“Whatthingthysleepdisquieteth?”

Withthat,mysoulwokeupfromitseclipse,

Thewhilemylady’snamerosetomylips:

Bututter’dinavoicesosob-broken,

Sofeeblewiththeagonyoftears,

ThatIalonemighthearitinmyheart;

Andthoughthatlookwasonmyvisagethen

Whichhewhoisashamedsoplainlywears,

LovemadethatIthroughshameheldnotapart,

Butgazeduponthem.Andmyhuewassuch

Thattheylook’dateachotherandthoughtofdeath;

Sayingundertheirbreath

Mosttenderly,“Oletuscomforthim:”

Thenuntome:“Whatdream

Wasthine,thatithathshakentheesomuch?”

AndwhenIwasalittlecomforted,

“This,ladies,wasthedreamIdreamt,”Isaid.

“Iwasa-thinkinghowlifefailswithus

Suddenlyaftersuchalittlewhile;

WhenLovesobb’dinmyheart,whichishishome.

Wherebymyspiritwax’dsodolorous

ThatinmyselfIsaid,withsickrecoil:

‘Yea,tomyladytoothisDeathmustcome.’

Andtherewithalsuchabewilderment

Possess’dme,thatIshutmineeyesforpeace;

Andinmybraindidcease

Orderofthought,andeveryhealthfulthing.

Afterwards,wandering

Amidaswarmofdoubtsthatcameandwent,

Somecertainwomen’sfaceshurriedby,

Andshriek’dtome,‘Thoutooshaltdie,shaltdie!’

“ThensawImanybrokenhintedsights

IntheuncertainstateIstepp’dinto.

Meseem’dtobeIknownotinwhatplace,

Whereladiesthroughthestreet,likemournfullights,

Ranwithloosehair,andeyesthatfrighten’dyou

Bytheirownterror,andapaleamaze:

Thewhile,littlebylittle,asIthought,

Thesunceased,andthestarsbegantogather,

Andeachweptattheother;

Andbirdsdropp’dinmid-flightoutofthesky;

Andearthshooksuddenly;

AndIwas’wareofone,hoarseandtiredout,

Whoask’dofme:‘Hastthounothearditsaid?…

Thylady,shethatwassofair,isdead.’

“Thenliftingupmineeyes,asthetearscame,

IsawtheAngels,likearainofmanna,

InalongflightflyingbackHeavenward;

Havingalittlecloudinfrontofthem,

Afterthewhichtheywentandsaid,‘Hosanna;’

Andiftheyhadsaidmore,youshouldhaveheard.

ThenLovesaid,‘Nowshallallthingsbemadeclear:

Comeandbeholdourladywhereshelies.’

These’wilderingphantasies

Thencarriedmetoseemyladydead.

EvenasItherewasled,

Herladieswithaveilwerecoveringher;

Andwithherwassuchveryhumbleness

Thatsheappearedtosay,‘Iamatpeace.’

“AndIbecamesohumbleinmygrief,

Seeinginhersuchdeephumility,

ThatIsaid:‘Death,Iholdtheepassinggood

Henceforth,andamostgentlesweetrelief,

Sincemydearlovehaschosentodwellwiththee:

Pity,nothate,isthine,wellunderstood.

Lo!Idosodesiretoseethyface

ThatIamlikeasonewhonearsthetomb;

Mysoulentreatsthee,Come.’

ThenIdeparted,havingmademymoan;

AndwhenIwasalone

Isaid,andcastmyeyestotheHighPlace:

‘Blessedishe,fairsoul,whomeetsthyglance!’

…Justthenyouwokeme,ofyourcomplaisaùnce.”

Thispoemhastwoparts.Inthefirst,speakingtoapersonundefined,ItellhowIwasarousedfromavainphantasybycertainladies,andhowIpromisedthemtotellwhatitwas.Inthesecond,IsayhowItoldthem.Thesecondpartbeginshere,“Iwasa-thinking.”Thefirstpartdividesintotwo.Inthefirst,Itellthatwhichcertainladies,andwhichonesingly,didandsaidbecauseofmyphantasy,beforeIhadreturnedintomyrightsenses.Inthesecond,ItellwhattheseladiessaidtomeafterIhadleftoffthiswandering:anditbeginshere,“Bututteredinavoice.”Then,whenIsay,“Iwasa-thinking,”IsayhowItoldthemthismyimagination;andconcerningthisIhavetwoparts.Inthefirst,Itell,inorder,thisimagination.Inthesecond,sayingatwhattimetheycalledme,Icovertlythankthem:andthispartbeginshere,“Justthenyouwokeme.”

Afterthisemptyimagining,ithappenedonaday,asIsatthoughtful,thatIwastakenwithsuchastrongtremblingattheheart,thatitcouldnothavebeenotherwiseinthepresenceofmylady.WhereuponIperceivedthattherewasanappearanceofLovebesideme,andIseemedtoseehimcomingfrommylady;andhesaid,notaloudbutwithinmyheart:“NowtakeheedthatthoublessthedaywhenIenteredintothee;foritisfittingthatthoushouldstdoso.”Andwiththatmyheartwassofullofgladness,thatIcouldhardlybelieveittobeofverytruthmineownheartandnotanother.

AshortwhileafterthesewordswhichmyheartspoketomewiththetongueofLove,Isawcomingtowardsmeacertainladywhowasveryfamousforherbeauty,andofwhomthatfriendwhomIhavealreadycalledthefirstamongmyfriendshadlongbeenenamoured.Thislady’srightnamewasJoan;butbecauseofhercomeliness(oratleastitwassoimagined)shewascalledofmanyPrimavera(Spring),andwentbythatnameamongthem.Thenlookingagain,IperceivedthatthemostnobleBeatricefollowedafterher.Andwhenboththeseladieshadpassedbyme,itseemedtomethatLovespakeagaininmyheart,saying:“ShethatcamefirstwascalledSpring,onlybecauseofthatwhichwastohappenonthisday.AnditwasImyselfwhocausedthatnametobegivenher;seeingthatastheSpringcomethfirstintheyear,soshouldshecomefirstonthisday,[21]whenBeatricewastoshowherselfafterthevisionofherservant.Andevenifthougoabouttoconsiderherrightname,itisalsoasoneshouldsay,‘Sheshallcomefirst;’inasmuchashername,Joan,istakenfromthatJohnwhowentbeforetheTrueLight,saying:‘Egovoxclamantisindeserto:ParateviamDomini.’”[22]Andalsoitseemedtomethatheaddedotherwords,towit:“Hewhoshouldinquiredelicatelytouchingthismatter,couldnotbutcallBeatricebymineownname,whichistosay,Love;beholdinghersolikeuntome.”

ThenI,havingthoughtofthis,imaginedtowriteitwithrhymesandsendituntomychieffriend;butsettingasidecertainwords[23]whichseemedpropertobesetaside,becauseIbelievedthathisheartstillregardedthebeautyofherthatwascalledSpring.

AndIwrotethissonnet:—

Ifeltaspiritoflovebegintostir

Withinmyheart,longtimeunfelttillthen;

AndsawLovecomingtowardsme,fairandfain

(ThatIscarceknewhimforhisjoyfulcheer),

Saying,“Benowindeedmyworshipper!”

Andinhisspeechhelaugh’dandlaugh’dagain.

Then,whileitwashispleasuretoremain,

Ichancedtolookthewayhehaddrawnnear,

AndsawtheLadiesJoanandBeatrice

Approachme,thistheotherfollowing,

Oneandasecondmarvelinstantly.

Andevenasnowmymemoryspeakeththis,

Lovespakeitthen:“Thefirstischristen’dSpring;

ThesecondLove,sheissoliketome.”

Thissonnethasmanyparts:whereofthefirsttellshowIfeltawakenedwithinmyhearttheaccustomedtremor,andhowitseemedthatLoveappearedtomejoyfulfromafar.ThesecondsayshowitappearedtomethatLovespakewithinmyheart,andwhatwashisaspect.Thethirdtellshow,afterhehadinsuchwisebeenwithmeaspace,Isawandheardcertainthings.Thesecondpartbeginshere,“Saying,‘Benow;’”thethirdhere,“Then,whileitwashispleasure.”Thethirdpartdividesintotwo.Inthefirst,IsaywhatIsaw.Inthesecond,IsaywhatIheard;anditbeginshere,“Lovespakeitthen.”

Itmightbehereobjecteduntome,(andevenbyoneworthyofcontroversy,)thatIhavespokenofLoveasthoughitwereathingoutwardandvisible:notonlyaspiritualessence,butasabodilysubstancealso.Thewhichthing,inabsolutetruth,isafallacy;Lovenotbeingofitselfasubstance,butanaccidentofsubstance.YetthatIspeakofLoveasthoughitwereathingtangibleandevenhuman,appearsbythreethingswhichIsaythereof.Andfirstly,IsaythatIperceivedLovecomingtowardsme;whereby,seeingthattocomebespeakslocomotion,andseeingalsohowphilosophyteachethusthatnonebutacorporealsubstancehathlocomotion,itseemeththatIspeakofLoveasofacorporealsubstance.Andsecondly,IsaythatLovesmiled:andthirdly,thatLovespake;faculties(andespeciallytherisiblefaculty)whichappearproperuntoman:wherebyitfurtherseemeththatIspeakofLoveasofaman.Nowthatthismattermaybeexplained(asisfitting),itmustfirstberememberedthatancientlytheywhowrotepoemsofLovewrotenotinthevulgartongue,butrathercertainpoetsintheLatintongue.Imean,amongus,althoughperchancethesamemayhavebeenamongothers,andalthoughlikewise,asamongtheGreeks,theywerenotwritersofspokenlanguage,butmenofletters,treatedofthesethings.[24]Andindeeditisnotagreatnumberofyearssincepoetrybegantobemadeinthevulgartongue;thewritingofrhymesinspokenlanguagecorrespondingtothe

writinginmetreofLatinverse,byacertainanalogy.AndIsaythatitisbutalittlewhile,becauseifweexaminethelanguageofocoandthelanguageofsì,[25]weshallnotfindinthosetonguesanywrittenthingofanearlierdatethanthelasthundredandfiftyyears.Alsothereasonwhycertainofaverymeansortobtainedatthefirstsomefameaspoetsis,thatbeforethemnomanhadwrittenversesinthelanguageofsì:andofthese,thefirstwasmovedtothewritingofsuchversesbythewishtomakehimselfunderstoodofacertainlady,untowhomLatinpoetrywasdifficult.Thisthingisagainstsuchasrhymeconcerningothermattersthanlove;thatmodeofspeechhavingbeenfirstusedfortheexpressionoflovealone.[26]Wherefore,seeingthatpoetshavealicenseallowedthemthatisnotalloweduntothewritersofprose,andseeingalsothattheywhowriteinrhymearesimplypoetsinthevulgartongue,itbecomesfittingandreasonablethatalargerlicenseshouldbegiventothesethantoothermodernwriters;andthatanymetaphororrhetoricalsimilitudewhichispermitteduntopoets,shouldalsobecountednotunseemlyintherhymersofthevulgartongue.Thus,ifweperceivethattheformerhavecausedinanimatethingstospeakasthoughtheyhadsenseandreason,andtodiscourseonewithanother;yea,andnotonlyactualthings,butsuchalsoashavenorealexistence,(seeingthattheyhavemadethingswhicharenot,tospeak;andoftentimeswrittenofthosewhicharemerelyaccidentsasthoughtheyweresubstancesandthingshuman);itshouldthereforebepermittedtothelattertodothelike;whichistosay,notinconsiderately,butwithsuchsufficientmotiveasmayafterwardsbesetforthinprose.

ThattheLatinpoetshavedonethus,appearsthroughVirgil,wherehesaiththatJuno(towit,agoddesshostiletotheTrojans)spakeuntoÆolus,masteroftheWinds;asitiswritteninthefirstbookoftheÆneid,Æole,namquetibi,etc.;andthatthismasteroftheWindsmadereply:Tuus,oregina,quidoptes—Explorarelabor,mihijussacapesserefasest.Andthroughthesamepoet,theinanimatethingspeakethuntotheanimate,inthethirdbookoftheÆneid,whereitiswritten:Dardanidæduri,etc.WithLucan,theanimatethingspeakethtotheinanimate;asthus:Multum,Roma,tamendebescivilibusarmis.InHorace,manismadetospeaktohisownintelligenceasuntoanotherperson;(andnotonlyhathHoracedonethis,buthereinhefolloweththeexcellentHomer),asthusinhisPoetics:Dicmihi,Musa,virum,etc.ThroughOvid,Lovespeakethasahumancreature,inthebeginningofhisdiscourseDeRemediisAmoris:asthus:Bellamihi,video,bellaparantur,ait.Bywhichensamplesthisthingshallbemademanifestuntosuchasmaybeoffendedatanypartofthismybook.Andlestsomeofthecommonsortshouldbemovedtojeeringhereat,Iwillhereadd,thatneitherdidtheseancientpoetsspeakthuswithoutconsideration,norshouldtheywhoaremakersofrhymeinourdaywriteafterthesamefashion,havingnoreasoninwhattheywrite;foritwereashamefulthingifoneshouldrhymeunderthesemblanceofmetaphororrhetoricalsimilitude,andafterwards,beingquestionedthereof,shouldbeunabletoridhiswordsofsuchsemblance,untotheirrightunderstanding.Ofwhom,(towit,ofsuchasrhymethusfoolishly,)myselfandthefirstamongmyfriendsdoknowmany.

Butreturningtothematterofmydiscourse.Thisexcellentlady,ofwhomIspakeinwhathathgonebefore,cameatlastintosuchfavourwithallmen,thatwhenshepassedanywherefolkrantobeholdher;whichthingwasadeepjoytome:andwhenshedrew

nearuntoany,somuchtruthandsimplenessenteredintohisheart,thathedaredneithertolifthiseyesnortoreturnhersalutation:anduntothis,manywhohavefeltitcanbearwitness.Shewentalongcrownedandclothedwithhumility,showingnowhitofprideinallthatsheheardandsaw:andwhenshehadgoneby,itwassaidofmany,“Thisisnotawoman,butoneofthebeautifulangelsofHeaven:”andthereweresomethatsaid:“Thisissurelyamiracle;blessedbetheLord,whohathpowertoworkthusmarvellously.”Isay,ofverysooth,thatsheshowedherselfsogentleandsofullofallperfection,thatshebredinthosewholookeduponherasoothingquietbeyondanyspeech;neithercouldanylookuponherwithoutsighingimmediately.Thesethings,andthingsyetmorewonderful,werebroughttopassthroughhermiraculousvirtue.WhereforeI,consideringthereofandwishingtoresumetheendlesstaleofherpraises,resolvedtowritesomewhatwhereinImightdwellonhersurpassinginfluence;totheendthatnotonlytheywhohadbeheldher,butothersalso,mightknowasmuchconcerningheraswordscouldgivetotheunderstanding.AnditwasthenthatIwrotethissonnet:—

Myladylookssogentleandsopure

Whenyieldingsalutationbytheway,

Thatthetonguetremblesandhasnoughttosay,

Andtheeyes,whichfainwouldsee,maynotendure.

Andstill,amidthepraiseshehearssecure,

Shewalkswithhumblenessforherarray;

SeemingacreaturesentfromHeaventostay

Onearth,andshowamiraclemadesure.

Sheissopleasantintheeyesofmen

Thatthroughthesighttheinmostheartdothgain

Asweetnesswhichneedsprooftoknowitby:

Andfrombetweenherlipsthereseemstomove

Asoothingessencethatisfulloflove,

Sayingforevertothespirit,“Sigh!”

Thissonnetissoeasytounderstand,fromwhatisaforenarrated,thatitneedsnodivision;andtherefore,leavingit,Isayalsothatthisexcellentladycameintosuchfavourwithallmen,thatnotonlysheherselfwashonouredandcommended,butthroughhercompanionship,honourandcommendationcameuntoothers.WhereforeI,perceivingthis,andwishingthatitshouldalsobemademanifesttothosethatbehelditnot,wrotethesonnetherefollowing;whereinissignifiedthepowerwhichhervirtuehaduponotherladies:—

Forcertainhehathseenallperfectness

Whoamongotherladieshathseenmine:

Theythatgowithherhumblyshouldcombine

TothanktheirGodforsuchpeculiargrace.

Soperfectisthebeautyofherface

Thatitbegetsinnowiseanysign

Ofenvy,butdrawsroundheraclearline

Oflove,andblessedfaith,andgentleness.

Merelythesightofhermakesallthingsbow:

Notsheherselfaloneisholier

Thanall;buthers,throughher,areraisedabove.

Fromallheractssuchlovelygracesflow

Thattrulyonemayneverthinkofher

Withoutapassionofexceedinglove.

Thissonnethasthreeparts.Inthefirst,Isayinwhatcompanythisladyappearedmostwondrous.Inthesecond,Isayhowgraciouswashersociety.Inthethird,Itellofthethingswhichshe,withpower,workeduponothers.Thesecondbeginshere,“Theythatgowithher;”thethirdhere,“Soperfect.”Thislastpartdividesintothree.Inthefirst,Itellwhatsheoperateduponwomen,thatis,bytheirownfaculties.Inthesecond,Itellwhatsheoperatedinthemthroughothers.Inthethird,Isayhowshenotonlyoperatedinwomen,butinallpeople;andnotonlywhileherselfpresent,but,bymemoryofher,operatedwondrously.Thesecondbeginshere,“Merelythesight;”thethirdhere,“Fromallheracts.”

Thereafteronaday,IbegantoconsiderthatwhichIhadsaidofmylady:towit,inthesetwosonnetsaforegone:andbecomingawarethatIhadnotspokenofherimmediateeffectonmeatthatespecialtime,itseemedtomethatIhadspokendefectively.WhereuponIresolvedtowritesomewhatofthemannerwhereinIwasthensubjecttoherinfluence,andofwhatherinfluencethenwas.AndconceivingthatIshouldnotbeabletosaythesethingsinthesmallcompassofasonnet,Ibeganthereforeapoemwiththisbeginning:—

Lovehathsolongpossessedmeforhisown

Andmadehislordshipsofamiliar

Thathe,whoatfirstirkedme,isnowgrown

Untomyheartasitsbestsecretsare.

Andthus,whenheinsuchsorewisedothmar

Mylifethatallitsstrengthseemsgonefromit,

Mineinmostbeingthenfeelsthroughlyquit

Ofanguish,andallevilkeepsafar.

Lovealsogatherstosuchpowerinme

Thatmysighsspeak,eachoneagrievousthing,

Alwayssoliciting

Mylady’ssalutationpiteously.

Whenevershebeholdsme,itisso,

Whoismoresweetthananywordscanshow.

* * * * * *

* * * * * *

Quomodosedetsolacivitasplenapopulo!factaestquasividuadominagentium![27]

Iwasstilloccupiedwiththispoem,(havingcomposedthereofonlytheabove-writtenstanza,)whentheLordGodofjusticecalledmymostgraciousladyuntoHimself,thatshemightbegloriousunderthebannerofthatblessedQueenMary,whosenamehadalwaysadeepreverenceinthewordsofholyBeatrice.AndbecausehaplyitmightbefoundgoodthatIshouldsaysomewhatconcerningherdeparture,IwillhereindeclarewhatarethereasonswhichmakethatIshallnotdoso.

Andthereasonsarethree.Thefirstis,thatsuchmatterbelongethnotofrighttothepresentargument,ifoneconsidertheopeningofthislittlebook.Thesecondis,thateventhoughthepresentargumentrequiredit,mypendothnotsufficetowriteinafitmannerofthisthing.Andthethirdis,thatwereitbothpossibleandofabsolutenecessity,itwouldstillbeunseemlyformetospeakthereof,seeingthattherebyitmustbehovemetospeakalsomineownpraises:athingthatinwhosoeverdoethitisworthyofblame.Forthewhichreasons,Iwillleavethismattertobetreatedofbysomeotherthanmyself.

Nevertheless,asthenumbernine,whichnumberhathoftenhadmentioninwhathathgonebefore,(andnot,asitmightappear,withoutreason,)seemsalsotohaveborneapartinthemannerofherdeath:itisthereforerightthatIshouldsaysomewhatthereof.Andforthiscause,havingfirstsaidwhatwasthepartitboreherein,Iwillafterwardspointoutareasonwhichmadethatthisnumberwassocloselyallieduntomylady.

Isay,then,thataccordingtothedivisionoftimeinItaly,hermostnoblespiritdepartedfromamongusinthefirsthouroftheninthdayofthemonth;andaccordingtothedivisionoftimeinSyria,intheninthmonthoftheyear:seeingthatTismim,whichwithusisOctober,istherethefirstmonth.Alsoshewastakenfromamongusinthatyearofourreckoning(towit,oftheyearsofourLord)inwhichtheperfectnumberwasninetimesmultipliedwithinthatcenturywhereinshewasbornintotheworld:whichistosay,thethirteenthcenturyofChristians.[28]

Andtouchingthereasonwhythisnumberwassocloselyallieduntoher,itmayperadventurebethis.AccordingtoPtolemy(andalsototheChristianverity),therevolvingheavensarenine;andaccordingtothecommonopinionamongastrologers,thesenineheavenstogetherhaveinfluenceovertheearth.Whereforeitwouldappearthatthisnumberwasthusallieduntoherforthepurposeofsignifyingthat,atherbirth,all

thesenineheavenswereatperfectunitywitheachotherastotheirinfluence.Thisisonereasonthatmaybebrought:butmorenarrowlyconsidering,andaccordingtotheinfallibletruth,thisnumberwasherownself:thatistosay,bysimilitude.Asthus.Thenumberthreeistherootofthenumbernine;seeingthatwithouttheinterpositionofanyothernumber,beingmultipliedmerelybyitself,itproducethnine,aswemanifestlyperceivethatthreetimesthreearenine.Thus,threebeingofitselftheefficientofnine,andtheGreatEfficientofMiraclesbeingofHimselfThreePersons(towit:theFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit),which,beingThree,arealsoOne:—thisladywasaccompaniedbythenumberninetotheendthatmenmightclearlyperceivehertobeanine,thatis,amiracle,whoseonlyrootistheHolyTrinity.Itmaybethatamoresubtilepersonwouldfindforthisthingareasonofgreatersubtilty:butsuchisthereasonthatIfind,andthatlikethmebest.

Afterthismostgraciouscreaturehadgoneoutfromamongus,thewholecitycametobeasitwerewidowedanddespoiledofalldignity.ThenI,leftmourninginthisdesolatecity,wroteuntotheprincipalpersonsthereof,inanepistle,concerningitscondition;takingformycommencementthosewordsofJeremias:Quomodosedetsolacivitas!etc.AndImakementionofthis,thatnonemaymarvelwhereforeIsetdownthesewordsbefore,inbeginningtotreatofherdeath.Alsoifanyshouldblameme,inthatIdonottranscribethatepistlewhereofIhavespoken,IwillmakeitmineexcusethatIbeganthislittlebookwiththeintentthatitshouldbewrittenaltogetherinthevulgartongue;wherefore,seeingthattheepistleIspeakofisinLatin,itbelongethnottomineundertaking:moreespeciallyasIknowthatmychieffriend,forwhomIwritethisbook,wishedalsothatthewholeofitshouldbeinthevulgartongue.

Whenmineeyeshadweptforsomewhile,untiltheyweresowearywithweepingthatIcouldnolongerthroughthemgiveeasetomysorrow,Ibethoughtmethatafewmournfulwordsmightstandmeinsteadoftears.AndthereforeIproposedtomakeapoem,thatweepingImightspeakthereinofherforwhomsomuchsorrowhaddestroyedmyspirit;andIthenbegan“Theeyesthatweep.”

Thatthispoemmayseemtoremainthemorewidowedatitsclose,Iwilldivideitbeforewritingit;andthismethodIwillobservehenceforward.Isaythatthispoorlittlepoemhasthreeparts.Thefirstisaprelude.Inthesecond,Ispeakofher.Inthethird,Ispeakpitifullytothepoem.Thesecondbeginshere,“Beatriceisgoneup;”thethirdhere,“Weep,pitifulSongofmine.”Thefirstdividesintothree.Inthefirst,Isaywhatmovesmetospeak.Inthesecond,IsaytowhomImeantospeak.Inthethird,IsayofwhomImeantospeak.Thesecondbeginshere,“Andbecauseoften,thinking;”thethirdhere,“AndIwillsay.”Then,whenIsay,“Beatriceisgoneup,”Ispeakofher;andconcerningthisIhavetwoparts.First,Itellthecausewhyshewastakenawayfromus:afterwards,Isayhowoneweepsherparting;andthispartcommenceshere,“Wonderfully.”Thispartdividesintothree.Inthefirst,Isaywhoitisthatweepshernot.Inthesecond,Isaywhoitisthatdothweepher.Inthethird,Ispeakofmycondition.Thesecondbeginshere,“Butsighingcomes,andgrief;”thethird,“Withsighs.”Then,whenIsay,“Weep,pitifulSongofmine,”Ispeaktothismysong,tellingitwhatladiestogoto,andstaywith.

Theeyesthatweepforpityoftheheart

Haveweptsolongthattheirgrieflanguisheth,

Andtheyhavenomoretearstoweepwithal:

Andnow,ifIwouldeasemeofapart

Ofwhat,littlebylittle,leadstodeath,

Itmustbedonebyspeech,ornotatall.

Andbecauseoften,thinking,Irecall

Howitwaspleasant,ereshewentafar,

Totalkofherwithyou,kinddamozels,

Italkwithnooneelse,

Butonlywithsuchheartsaswomen’sare.

AndIwillsay,—stillsobbingasspeechfails,—

ThatshehathgonetoHeavensuddenly,

AndhathleftLovebelow,tomournwithme.

BeatriceisgoneupintohighHeaven,

Thekingdomwheretheangelsareatpeace;

Andliveswiththem;andtoherfriendsisdead.

Notbythefrostofwinterwasshedriven

Away,likeothers;norbysummer-heats;

Butthroughaperfectgentleness,instead.

Forfromthelampofhermeeklowlihead

Suchanexceedingglorywentuphence

ThatitwokewonderintheEternalSire,

Untilasweetdesire

EnteredHimforthatlovelyexcellence,

SothatHebadehertoHimselfaspire;

Countingthiswearyandmostevilplace

Unworthyofathingsofullofgrace.

Wonderfullyoutofthebeautifulform

Soaredherclearspirit,waxinggladthewhile;

Andisinitsfirsthome,therewhereitis.

Whospeaksthereof,andfeelsnotthetearswarm

Uponhisface,musthavebecomesovile

Astobedeadtoallsweetsympathies.

Outuponhim!anabjectwretchlikethis

Maynotimagineanythingofher,—

Heneedsnobittertearsforhisrelief.

Butsighingcomes,andgrief,

Andthedesiretofindnocomforter,

(SaveonlyDeath,whomakesallsorrowbrief),

Tohimwhoforawhileturnsinhisthought

Howshehathbeenamongus,andisnot.

Withsighsmybosomalwayslaboureth

Inthinking,asIdocontinually,

Ofherforwhommyheartnowbreaksapace;

AndveryoftenwhenIthinkofdeath,

Suchagreatinwardlongingcomestome

Thatitwillchangethecolourofmyface;

And,iftheideasettlesinitsplace,

Allmylimbsshakeaswithanague-fit:

Till,startingupinwildbewilderment,

Idobecomesoshent

ThatIgoforth,lestfolkmisdoubtofit.

Afterward,callingwithasorelament

OnBeatrice,Iask,“Canstthoubedead?”

Andcallingonher,Iamcomforted.

Griefwithitstears,andanguishwithitssighs,

Cometomenowwhene’erIamalone;

SothatIthinkthesightofmegivespain.

Andwhatmylifehathbeen,thatlivingdies,

SinceformyladytheNewBirth’sbegun,

Ihavenotanylanguagetoexplain.

Andso,dearladies,thoughmyheartwerefain,

IscarcecouldtellindeedhowIamthus.

Alljoyiswithmybitterlifeatwar;

Yea,Iamfallensofar

Thatallmenseemtosay,“Gooutfromus,”

Eyeingmycoldwhitelips,howdeadtheyare.

Butshe,thoughIbeboweduntothedust,

Watchesme;andwillguerdonme,Itrust.

Weep,pitifulSongofmine,uponthyway,

Tothedamesgoingandthedamozels

Forwhomandfornoneelse

Thysistershavemademusicmanyaday.

Thou,thatartverysadandnotasthey,

Godwellthouwiththemasamournerdwells.

AfterIhadwrittenthispoem,IreceivedthevisitofafriendwhomIcountedasseconduntomeinthedegreesoffriendship,andwho,moreover,hadbeenunitedbythenearestkindredtothatmostgraciouscreature.Andwhenwehadalittlespokentogether,hebegantosolicitmethatIwouldwritesomewhatinmemoryofaladywhohaddied;andhedisguisedhisspeech,soastoseemtobespeakingofanotherwhowasbutlatelydead:whereforeI,perceivingthathisspeechwasofnoneotherthanthatblessedoneherself,toldhimthatitshouldbedoneasherequired.Thenafterwards,havingthoughtthereof,Iimaginedtogiveventinasonnettosomepartofmyhiddenlamentations;butinsuchsortthatitmightseemtobespokenbythisfriendofmine,towhomIwastogiveit.Andthesonnetsaiththus:“Staynowwithme,”etc.

Thissonnethastwoparts.Inthefirst,IcalltheFaithfulofLovetohearme.Inthesecond,Irelatemymiserablecondition.Thesecondbeginshere,“Markhowtheyforce.”

Staynowwithme,andlistentomysighs,

Yepiteoushearts,aspitybidsyedo.

Markhowtheyforcetheirwayoutandpressthrough;

Iftheybeoncepentup,thewholelifedies.

Seeingthatnowindeedmywearyeyes

OftenerrefusethanIcantelltoyou

(Eventhoughmyendlessgriefisevernew),

Toweepandletthesmotheredanguishrise.

Alsoinsighingyeshallhearmecall

Onherwhoseblessèdpresencedothenrich

Theonlyhomethatwellbefittethher:

Andyeshallhearabitterscornofall

Sentfromtheinmostofmyspiritinspeech

Thatmournsitsjoyanditsjoy’sminister.

ButwhenIhadwrittenthissonnet,bethinkingmewhohewastowhomIwastogiveit,thatitmightappeartobehisspeech,itseemedtomethatthiswasbutapoorandbarrengiftforoneofhersonearkindred.Wherefore,beforegivinghimthissonnet,Iwrotetwostanzasofapoem:thefirstbeingwritteninverysoothasthoughitwerespokenbyhim,buttheotherbeingmineownspeech,albeit,untoonewhoshouldnotlookclosely,theywouldbothseemtobesaidbythesameperson.Nevertheless,lookingclosely,onemustperceivethatitisnotso,inasmuchasonedoesnotcallthismostgraciouscreaturehislady,andtheotherdoes,asismanifestlyapparent.AndIgavethepoemandthesonnetuntomyfriend,sayingthatIhadmadethemonlyforhim.

Thepoembegins,“Whateverwhile,”andhastwoparts.Inthefirst,thatis,inthefirststanza,thismydearfriend,herkinsman,laments.Inthesecond,Ilament;thatis,intheotherstanza,whichbegins,“Forever.”Andthusitappearsthatinthispoemtwopersonslament,ofwhomonelamentsasabrother,theotherasaservant.

Whateverwhilethethoughtcomesoverme

ThatImaynotagain

BeholdthatladywhomImournfornow,

Aboutmyheartmymindbringsconstantly

Somuchofextremepain

ThatIsay,Soulofmine,whystayestthou?

Trulytheanguish,Soul,thatwemustbow

Beneath,untilwewinoutofthislife,

Givesmefulloftafearthattrembleth:

SothatIcallonDeath

EvenasonSleeponecallethafterstrife,

Saying,Comeuntome.Lifeshowethgrim

Andbare;andifonedies,Ienvyhim.

Forever,amongallmysighswhichburn,

Thereisapiteousspeech

Thatclamoursupondeathcontinually:

Yea,untohimdothmywholespiritturn

Sincefirsthishanddidreach

Mylady’slifewithmostfoulcruelty.

Butfromtheheightofwoman’sfairness,she,

Goingupfromuswiththejoywehad,

Grewperfectlyandspirituallyfair;

Thatsoshespreadseventhere

AlightofLovewhichmakestheAngelsglad,

Andevenuntotheirsubtlemindscanbring

Acertainaweofprofoundmarvelling.

Onthatdaywhichfulfilledtheyearsincemyladyhadbeenmadeofthecitizensofeternallife,rememberingmeofherasIsatalone,Ibetookmyselftodrawtheresemblanceofanangeluponcertaintablets.AndwhileIdidthus,chancingtoturnmyhead,IperceivedthatsomewerestandingbesidemetowhomIshouldhavegivencourteouswelcome,andthattheywereobservingwhatIdid:alsoIlearnedafterwardsthattheyhadbeenthereawhilebeforeIperceivedthem.Perceivingwhom,Iaroseforsalutation,andsaid:“Anotherwaswithme.”[29]

Afterwards,whentheyhadleftme,Isetmyselfagaintomineoccupation,towit,tothedrawingfiguresofangels:indoingwhich,Iconceivedtowriteofthismatterinrhyme,asforheranniversary,andtoaddressmyrhymesuntothosewhohadjustleftme.ItwasthenthatIwrotethesonnetwhichsaith,“Thatlady;”andasthissonnethathtwocommencements,itbehovethmetodivideitwithbothofthemhere.

Isaythat,accordingtothefirst,thissonnethasthreeparts.Inthefirst,Isaythatthisladywastheninmymemory.Inthesecond,ItellwhatLovethereforedidwithme.Inthethird,IspeakoftheeffectsofLove.Thesecondbeginshere,“Loveknowing;”thethirdhere,“Forthwentthey.”Thispartdividesintotwo.Intheone,Isaythatallmysighsissuedspeaking.Intheother,Isayhowsomespokecertainwordsdifferentfromtheothers.Thesecondbeginshere,“Andstill.”Inthissamemannerisitdividedwiththeotherbeginning,savethat,inthefirstpart,Itellwhenthisladyhadthuscomeintomymind,andthisIsaynotintheother.

Thatladyofallgentlememories

Hadlightedonmysoul;—whosenewabode

Liesnow,asitwaswellordainedofGod,

Amongthepoorinheart,whereMaryis.

Love,knowingthatdearimagetobehis,

Wokeupwithinthesickheartsorrow-bow’d,

Untothesighswhichareitswearyload

Saying,“Goforth.”Andtheywentforth,Iwis;

Forthwenttheyfrommybreastthatthrobbedandached;

Withsuchapangasoftentimeswillbathe

MineeyeswithtearswhenIamleftalone.

Andstillthosesighswhichdrewtheheaviestbreath

Camewhisperingthus:“Onobleintellect!

Itisayearto-daythatthouartgone.”

SECONDCOMMENCEMENT.Thatladyofallgentlememories

Hadlightedonmysoul;—forwhosesakeflow’d

ThetearsofLove;inwhomthepowerabode

WhichledyoutoobservewhileIdidthis.

Love,knowingthatdearimagetobehis,etc.

Then,havingsatforsomespacesorelyinthoughtbecauseofthetimethatwasnowpast,Iwassofilledwithdolorousimaginingsthatitbecameoutwardlymanifestinminealteredcountenance.Whereupon,feelingthisandbeingindreadlestanyshouldhaveseenme,Iliftedmineeyestolook;andthenperceivedayoungandverybeautifullady,whowasgazinguponmefromawindowwithagazefullofpity,sothattheverysumofpityappearedgatheredtogetherinher.Andseeingthatunhappypersons,whentheybegetcompassioninothers,arethenmostmoveduntoweeping,asthoughtheyalsofeltpityforthemselves,itcametopassthatmineeyesbegantobeinclineduntotears.Wherefore,becomingfearfullestIshouldmakemanifestmineabjectcondition,Iroseup,andwentwhereIcouldnotbeseenofthatlady;sayingafterwardswithinmyself:“CertainlywithheralsomustabidemostnobleLove.”Andwiththat,Iresolveduponwritingasonnet,wherein,speakinguntoher,IshouldsayallthatIhavejustsaid.Andasthissonnetisveryevident,Iwillnotdivideit:—

Mineeyesbeheldtheblessedpityspring

Intothycountenanceimmediately

Awhileagone,whenthoubeheldstinme

Thesicknessonlyhiddengriefcanbring;

AndthenIknewthouwastconsidering

Howabjectandforlornmylifemustbe;

AndIbecameafraidthatthoushouldstsee

Myweeping,andaccountitabasething.

ThereforeIwentoutfromthee;feelinghow

Thetearswerestraightwayloosenedatmyheart

Beneaththineeyes’compassionatecontrol.

AndafterwardsIsaidwithinmysoul:

“Lo!withthisladydwellsthecounterpart

OfthesameLovewhoholdsmeweepingnow.”

Ithappenedafterthis,thatwhensoeverIwasseenofthislady,shebecamepaleandofapiteouscountenance,asthoughithadbeenwithlove;wherebysherememberedmemanytimesofmyownmostnoblelady,whowaswonttobeofalikepaleness.AndIknowthatoften,whenIcouldnotweepnorinanywaygiveeaseuntomineanguish,Iwenttolookuponthislady,whoseemedtobringthetearsintomyeyesbythemeresightofher.OfthewhichthingIbethoughtmetospeakuntoherinrhyme,andthenmadethissonnet:whichbegins,“Love’spallor,”andwhichisplainwithoutbeingdivided,byitsexpositionaforesaid:—

Love’spallorandthesemblanceofdeepruth

Wereneveryetshownforthsoperfectly

Inanylady’sface,chancingtosee

Grief’smiserablecountenanceuncouth,

Asinthine,lady,theyhavesprungtosoothe,

Wheninmineanguishthouhastlookedonme;

Untilsometimesitseemsasif,throughthee,

Myheartmightalmostwanderfromitstruth.

Yetsoitis,Icannotholdmineeyes

Fromgazingveryoftenuponthine

Inthesorehopetoshedthosetearstheykeep;

Andatsuchtime,thoumak’stthepenttearsrise

Eventothebrim,tilltheeyeswasteandpine;

Yetcannotthey,whilethouartpresent,weep.

Atlength,bytheconstantsightofthislady,mineeyesbegantobegladdenedovermuchwithhercompany;throughwhichthingmanytimesIhadmuchunrest,andrebukedmyselfasabaseperson:also,manytimesIcursedtheunsteadfastnessofmineeyes,andsaidtotheminwardly:“Wasnotyourgrievousconditionofweepingwontonewhiletomakeothersweep?Andwillyenowforgetthisthingbecausealadylookethuponyou?whosolookethmerelyincompassionofthegriefyethenshowedforyourownblessedlady.Butwhatsoyecan,thatdoye,accursedeyes!manyatimewillImakeyou

rememberit!fornever,tilldeathdryyouup,shouldyemakeanendofyourweeping.”AndwhenIhadspokenthusuntomineeyes,Iwastakenagainwithextremeandgrievoussighing.AndtotheendthatthisinwardstrifewhichIhadundergonemightnotbehiddenfromallsavingthemiserablewretchwhoenduredit,Iproposedtowriteasonnet,andtocomprehendinitthishorriblecondition.AndIwrotethiswhichbegins,“Theverybitterweeping.”

Thesonnethastwoparts.Inthefirst,Ispeaktomyeyes,asmyheartspokewithinmyself.Inthesecond,Iremoveadifficulty,showingwhoitisthatspeaksthus:andthispartbeginshere,“Sofar.”Itwellmightreceiveotherdivisionsalso;butthiswouldbeuseless,sinceitismanifestbytheprecedingexposition.

“Theverybitterweepingthatyemade

Solongatimetogether,eyesofmine,

Waswonttomakethetearsofpityshine

Inothereyesfulloft,asIhavesaid.

Butnowthisthingwerescarcerememberèd

IfI,onmypart,foullywouldcombine

Withyou,andnotrecalleachancientsign

Ofgrief,andherforwhomyourtearswereshed

Itisyourficklenessthatdothbetray

Mymindtofears,andmakesmetremblethus

Whatwhilealadygreetsmewithhereyes.

Exceptbydeath,wemustnotanyway

Forgetourladywhoisgonefromus.”

Sofardothmyheartutter,andthensighs.

ThesightofthisladybroughtmeintosounwontedaconditionthatIoftenthoughtofherasofonetoodearuntome;andIbegantoconsiderherthus:“Thisladyisyoung,beautiful,gentle,andwise;perchanceitwasLovehimselfwhosetherinmypath,thatsomylifemightfindpeace.”AndthereweretimeswhenIthoughtyetmorefondly,untilmyheartconsenteduntoitsreasoning.Butwhenithadsoconsented,mythoughtwouldoftenturnrounduponme,asmovedbyreason,andcausemetosaywithinmyself:“Whathopeisthiswhichwouldconsolemeaftersobaseafashion,andwhichhathtakentheplaceofallotherimagining?”Alsotherewasanothervoicewithinme,thatsaid:“Andwiltthou,havingsufferedsomuchtribulationthroughLove,notescapewhileyetthoumaystfromsomuchbitterness?ThoumustsurelyknowthatthisthoughtcarrieswithitthedesireofLove,anddrewitslifefromthegentleeyesofthatladywhovouchsafedtheesomuchpity.”WhereforeI,havingstrivensorelyandveryoftenwithmyself,bethoughtmetosaysomewhatthereofinrhyme.Andseeingthatinthebattleofdoubts,thevictorymostoften

remainedwithsuchasinclinedtowardstheladyofwhomIspeak,itseemedtomethatIshouldaddressthissonnetuntoher:inthefirstlinewhereof,Icallthatthoughtwhichspakeofheragentlethought,onlybecauseitspokeofonewhowasgentle;beingofitselfmostvile.[30]

InthissonnetImakemyselfintotwo,accordingasmythoughtsweredivided,onefromtheother.TheonepartIcallHeart,thatis,appetite;theother,Soul,thatis,reason;andItellwhatonesaithtotheother.AndthatitisfittingtocalltheappetiteHeart,andthereasonSoul,ismanifestenoughtothemtowhomIwishthistobeopen.Trueitisthat,intheprecedingsonnet,ItakethepartoftheHeartagainsttheEyes;andthatappearscontrarytowhatIsayinthepresent;andthereforeIsaythat,therealso,bytheHeartImeanappetite,becauseyetgreaterwasmydesiretoremembermymostgentleladythantoseethisother,althoughindeedIhadsomeappetitetowardsher,butitappearedslight:wherefromitappearsthattheonestatementisnotcontrarytotheother.Thissonnethasthreeparts.Inthefirst,Ibegintosaytothisladyhowmydesiresturnalltowardsher.Inthesecond,IsayhowtheSoul,thatis,thereason,speakstotheHeart,thatis,totheappetite.Inthethird,Isayhowthelatteranswers.Thesecondbeginshere,“Andwhatisthis?”thethirdhere,“Andtheheartanswers.”

Agentlethoughtthereiswilloftenstart,

Withinmysecretself,tospeechofthee:

AlsoofLoveitspeakssotenderly

Thatmuchinmeconsentsandtakesitspart.

“Andwhatisthis,”thesoulsaithtotheheart,

“Thatcomeththustocomforttheeandme,

Andthencewhereitwoulddwell,thuspotently

Candriveallotherthoughtsbyitsstrangeart?”

Andtheheartanswers:“Benomoreatstrife

’Twixtdoubtanddoubt:thisisLove’smessenger

Andspeakethbuthiswords,fromhimreceived;

Andallthestrengthitownsandallthelife

Itdrawethfromthegentleeyesofher

Who,lookingonourgrief,hathoftengrieved.”

Butagainstthisadversaryofreason,thereroseupinmeonacertainday,abouttheninthhour,astrongvisiblephantasy,whereinIseemedtobeholdthemostgraciousBeatrice,habitedinthatcrimsonraimentwhichshehadwornwhenIhadfirstbeheldher;alsosheappearedtomeofthesametenderageasthen.WhereuponIfellintoadeepthoughtofher:andmymemoryranback,accordingtotheorderoftime,untoallthosemattersinthewhichshehadborneapart;andmyheartbeganpainfullytorepentofthedesirebywhich

ithadsobaselyletitselfbepossessedduringsomanydays,contrarytotheconstancyofreason.

Andthen,thisevildesirebeingquitegonefromme,allmythoughtsturnedagainuntotheirexcellentBeatrice.AndIsaymosttrulythatfromthathourIthoughtconstantlyofherwiththewholehumbledandashamedheart;thewhichbecameoftenmanifestinsighs,thathadamongthemthenameofthatmostgraciouscreature,andhowshedepartedfromus.Alsoitwouldcometopassveryoften,throughthebitteranguishofsomeonethought,thatIforgotbothit,andmyself,andwhereIwas.Bythisincreaseofsighs,myweeping,whichbeforehadbeensomewhatlessened,increasedinlikemanner;sothatmineeyesseemedtolongonlyfortearsandtocherishthem,andcameatlasttobecircledaboutwithredasthoughtheyhadsufferedmartyrdom:neitherweretheyabletolookagainuponthebeautyofanyfacethatmightagainbringthemtoshameandevil:fromwhichthingsitwillappearthattheywerefitlyguerdonedfortheirunsteadfastness.WhereforeI,(wishingthatmineabandonmentofallsuchevildesiresandvaintemptationsshouldbecertifiedandmademanifest,beyondalldoubtswhichmighthavebeensuggestedbytherhymesaforewritten)proposedtowriteasonnetwhereinIshouldexpressthispurport.AndIthenwrote,“Woe’sme!”

Isaid,“Woe’sme!”becauseIwasashamedofthetriflingofmineeyes.ThissonnetIdonotdivide,sinceitspurportismanifestenough.

Woe’sme!bydintofallthesesighsthatcome

Forthofmyheart,itsendlessgrieftoprove,

Mineeyesareconquered,sothateventomove

Theirlidsforgreetingisgrowntroublesome.

Theyweptsolongthatnowtheyaregrief’shome,

Andcounttheirtearsalllaughterfarabove:

TheywepttilltheyarecirclednowbyLove

Witharedcircleinsignofmartyrdom.

Thesemusings,andthesighstheybringfromme,

Aregrownatlastsoconstantandsosore

Thatloveswoonsinmyspiritwithfaintbreath;

Hearinginthosesadsoundscontinually

Themostsweetnamethatmydeadladybore,

Withmanygrievouswordstouchingherdeath.

Aboutthistime,ithappenedthatagreatnumberofpersonsundertookapilgrimage,totheendthattheymightbeholdthatblessedportraiturebequeatheduntousbyourLordJesusChristastheimageofHisbeautifulcountenance,[31](uponwhichcountenancemydearladynowlookethcontinually).Andcertainamongthesepilgrims,whoseemedvery

thoughtful,passedbyapathwhichiswell-nighinthemidstofthecitywheremymostgraciousladywasborn,andabode,andatlastdied.

ThenI,beholdingthem,saidwithinmyself:“Thesepilgrimsseemtobecomefromveryfar;andIthinktheycannothaveheardspeakofthislady,orknowanythingconcerningher.Theirthoughtsarenotofher,butofotherthings;itmaybe,oftheirfriendswhoarefardistant,andwhomwe,inourturn,knownot.”AndIwentontosay:“Iknowthatiftheywereofacountrynearuntous,theywouldinsomewiseseemdisturbed,passingthroughthiscitywhichissofullofgrief.”AndIsaidalso:“IfIcouldspeakwiththemaspace,IamcertainthatIshouldmakethemweepbeforetheywentforthofthiscity;forthosethingsthattheywouldhearfrommemustneedsbegetweepinginany.”

Andwhenthelastofthemhadgonebyme,Ibethoughtmetowriteasonnet,showingforthmineinwardspeech;andthatitmightseemthemorepitiful,ImadeasthoughIhadspokenitindeeduntothem.AndIwrotethissonnet,whichbeginneth:“Yepilgrim-folk.”Imadeuseofthewordpilgrimforitsgeneralsignification;for“pilgrim”maybeunderstoodintwosenses,onegeneral,andonespecial.General,sofarasanymanmaybecalledapilgrimwholeaveththeplaceofhisbirth;whereas,morenarrowlyspeaking,heonlyisapilgrimwhogoethtowardsorfrowardstheHouseofSt.James.FortherearethreeseparatedenominationsproperuntothosewhoundertakejourneystothegloryofGod.TheyarecalledPalmerswhogobeyondtheseaseastward,whenceoftentheybringpalm-branches.AndPilgrims,asIhavesaid,aretheywhojourneyuntotheholyHouseofGallicia;seeingthatnootherapostlewasburiedsofarfromhisbirthplaceaswastheblessedSaintJames.AndthereisathirdsortwhoarecalledRomers;inthattheygowhitherthesewhomIhavecalledpilgrimswent:whichistosay,untoRome.

Thissonnetisnotdivided,becauseitsownwordssufficientlydeclareit.

Yepilgrim-folk,advancingpensively

Asifinthoughtofdistantthings,Ipray,

Isyourownlandindeedsofaraway—

Asbyyouraspectitwouldseemtobe—

Thatthisourheavysorrowleavesyoufree

Thoughpassingthroughthemournfultownmidway;

Likeuntomenthatunderstandto-day

Nothingatallofhergreatmisery?

Yetifyewillbutstay,whomIaccost,

Andlistentomywordsalittlespace,

Atgoingyeshallmournwithaloudvoice.

ItisherBeatricethatshehathlost;

Ofwhomtheleastwordspokenholdssuchgrace

Thatmenweephearingit,andhavenochoice.

Awhileafterthesethings,twogentleladiessentuntome,prayingthatIwouldbestowuponthemcertainofthesemyrhymes.AndI(takingintoaccounttheirworthinessandconsideration)resolvedthatIwouldwritealsoanewthing,andsenditthemtogetherwiththoseothers,totheendthattheirwishesmightbemorehonourablyfulfilled.ThereforeImadeasonnet,whichnarratesmycondition,andwhichIcausedtobeconveyedtothem,accompaniedbytheonepreceding,andwiththatotherwhichbegins,“Staynowwithmeandlistentomysighs.”Andthenewsonnetis,“Beyondthesphere.”

Thissonnetcomprisesfiveparts.Inthefirst,Itellwhithermythoughtgoeth,namingtheplacebythenameofoneofitseffects.Inthesecond,Isaywhereforeitgoethup,andwhomakesitgothus.Inthethird,Itellwhatitsaw,namely,aladyhonoured.AndIthencallita“PilgrimSpirit,”becauseitgoesupspiritually,andlikeapilgrimwhoisoutofhisknowncountry.Inthefourth,Isayhowthespiritseeshersuch(thatis,insuchquality)thatIcannotunderstandher;thatistosay,mythoughtrisesintothequalityofherinadegreethatmyintellectcannotcomprehend,seeingthatourintellectis,towardsthoseblessedsouls,likeoureyeweakagainstthesun;andthisthePhilosophersaysintheSecondoftheMetaphysics.Inthefifth,Isaythat,althoughIcannotseetherewhithermythoughtcarriesme—thatis,toheradmirableessence—Iatleastunderstandthis,namely,thatitisathoughtofmylady,becauseIoftenhearhernametherein.And,attheendofthisfifthpart,Isay,“Ladiesmine,”toshowthattheyareladiestowhomIspeak.Thesecondpartbegins,“Anewperception;”thethird,“Whenithathreached;”thefourth,“Itseeshersuch;”thefifth,“AndyetIknow.”Itmightbedividedyetmorenicely,andmadeyetclearer;butthisdivisionmaypass,andthereforeIstaynottodivideitfurther.

Beyondthespherewhichspreadstowidestspace

Nowsoarsthesighthatmyheartsendsabove:

AnewperceptionbornofgrievingLove

Guidethitupwardtheuntroddenways.

Whenithathreacheduntotheend,andstays,

Itseesaladyroundwhomsplendoursmove

Inhomage;till,bythegreatlightthereof

Abashed,thepilgrimspiritstandsatgaze.

Itseeshersuch,thatwhenittellsmethis

Whichithathseen,Iunderstanditnot,

Ithathaspeechsosubtileandsofine.

AndyetIknowitsvoicewithinmythought

OftenrememberethmeofBeatrice:

SothatIunderstandit,ladiesmine.

Afterwritingthissonnet,itwasgivenuntometobeholdaverywonderfulvision:[32]whereinIsawthingswhichdeterminedmethatIwouldsaynothingfurtherofthismostblessedone,untilsuchtimeasIcoulddiscoursemoreworthilyconcerningher.AndtothisendIlabourallIcan;asshewellknoweth.WhereforeifitbeHispleasurethroughwhomisthelifeofallthings,thatmylifecontinuewithmeafewyears,itismyhopethatIshallyetwriteconcerningherwhathathnotbeforebeenwrittenofanywoman.Afterthewhich,mayitseemgooduntoHimwhoistheMasterofGrace,thatmyspiritshouldgohencetobeholdthegloryofitslady:towit,ofthatblessedBeatricewhonowgazethcontinuallyonHiscountenancequiestperomniasæculabenedictus.[33]LausDeo.

THEEND.

NOTES1.Gentile.Thewordmeans“noble”ratherthan(initsmodernshadeofmeaning)“gentle.”“Genteel”wouldsometimesapply,buthasceasedtobeadmissibleinseriouswriting.

2.“Purgatorio,”C.xxx.

3.Imusthazardhere(torelievethefirstpageofmytranslationfromalongnote)asuggestionastothemeaningofthemostpuzzlingpassageinthewholeVitaNuova,—thatsentencejustattheoutsetwhichsays,“Lagloriosadonnadellamiamente,laqualefùchiamatadamoltiBeatrice,iqualinonsapeanochesichiamare.”Onthispassageallthecommentatorsseemhelpless,turningitaboutandsometimesadoptingalterationsnottobefoundinanyancientmanuscriptofthework.Thewordsmeanliterally,“ThegloriousladyofmymindwhowascalledBeatricebymanywhoknewnothowshewascalled.”Thispresentstheobviousdifficultythatthelady’snamereallywasBeatrice,andthatDantethroughoutusesthatnamehimself.InthetextofmyversionIhaveadopted,asarendering,theoneofthevariouscompromiseswhichseemedtogivethemostbeautytothemeaning.ButitoccurstomethatalessirrationalescapeoutofthedifficultythananyIhaveseensuggestedmaypossiblybefoundbylinkingthispassagewiththecloseofthesonnetatpage104oftheVitaNuova,beginning,“Ifeltaspiritoflovebegintostir,”inthelastlineofwhichsonnetLoveismadetoassertthatthenameofBeatriceisLove.Danteappearstohavedweltonthisfancywithsomepleasure,fromwhatissaidinanearliersonnet(page39)about“Loveinhisproperform”(bywhichBeatriceseemstobemeant)bendingoveradeadlady.AnditisinconnectionwiththesonnetwherethenameofBeatriceissaidtobeLove,thatDante,asiftoshowusthattheLovehespeaksofisonlyhisownemotion,entersintoanargumentastoLovebeingmerelyanaccidentinsubstance,—inotherwords,“Amoreeilcorgentilsonunacosa.”Thisconjecturemaybepronouncedextravagant;buttheVitaNuova,whenexamined,provessofullofintricateandfantasticanalogies,eveninthemerearrangementofitsparts,(muchmorethanappearsonanybuttheclosestscrutiny,)thatitseemsadmissibletosuggestevenawhimsicalsolutionofadifficultywhichremainsunconquered.Ortohaverecoursetothemuchmorewelcomemeansofsolutionaffordedbysimpleinherentbeauty:maynotthemeaningbemerelythatanypersonlookingonsonobleandlovelyacreation,withoutknowledgeofhername,musthavespontaneouslycalledherBeatrice,—i.e.,thegiverofblessing?ThiswouldbeanalogousbyantithesistothetranslationIhaveadoptedinmytext.

4.“Herebeginneththenewlife.”

5.Inreferencetothemeaningofthename,“Shewhoconfersblessing.”WelearnfromBoccacciothatthisfirstmeetingtookplaceataMayFeast,givenintheyear1274byFolcoPortinari,fatherofBeatrice,whorankedamongtheprincipalcitizensofFlorence:towhichfeastDanteaccompaniedhisfather,AlighieroAlighieri.

6.“HereisadeitystrongerthanI;who,coming,shallruleoverme.”

7.“Yourbeatitudehathnowbeenmademanifestuntoyou.”

8.“Woeisme!forthatoftenIshallbedisturbedfromthistimeforth!”

9.

Οὐδὲἐῴκει

Ἀνδρόςγεθνητοῦπαῖςἔμμεναι,ἀλλὰθεοῖο.

(Iliad,xxiv.258.)

10.“Iamthymaster.”

11.“Beholdthyheart.”

12.ThefriendofwhomDanteherespeakswasGuidoCavalcanti.

13.i.e.,inachurch.

14.Itwillbeobservedthatthispoemisnotwhatwenowcallasonnet.Itsstructure,however,isanalogoustothatofthesonnet,beingtwosextettsfollowedbytwoquatrains,insteadoftwoquatrainsfollowedbytwotriplets.Danteappliesthetermsonnettoboththeseformsofcomposition,andtonoother.

15.Thecommentatorsassertthatthelasttwolinesheredonotalludetothedeadlady,buttoBeatrice.

Thiswouldmakethepoemveryclumsyinconstruction;yettheremustbesomecovertallusiontoBeatrice,asDantehimselfintimates.TheonlyforminwhichIcantraceitconsistsintheimpliedassertionthatsuchpersonashadenjoyedthedeadlady’ssocietywasworthyofheaven,andthatpersonwasBeatrice.OrindeedtheallusiontoBeatricemightbeinthefirstpoem,wherehesaysthatLove“informavera”(thatis,Beatrice),mournedoverthecorpse:asheafterwardssaysofBeatrice,“QuellahanomeAmor.”Mostprobablybothallusionsareintended.

16.“Myson,itistimeforustolayasideourcounterfeiting.”

17.“Iamasthecentreofacircle,tothewhichallpartsofthecircumferencebearanequalrelation:butwiththeeitisnotthus.”ThisphraseseemstohaveremainedasobscuretocommentatorsasDantefounditatthemoment.Noone,asfarasIknow,hasevenfairlytriedtofindameaningforit.Tomethefollowingappearsanotunlikelyone.LoveisweepingonDante’saccount,andnotonhisown.Hesays,“Iamthecentreofacircle(Amorchemuoveilsoleel’altrestelle):thereforealllovableobjects,whetherinheavenorearth,oranypartofthecircle’scircumference,areequallyneartome.Notsothou,whowiltonedayloseBeatricewhenshegoestoheaven.”ThephrasewouldthuscontainanintimationofthedeathofBeatrice,accountingforDantebeingnexttoldnottoinquirethemeaningofthespeech,—”Demandnomorethanmaybeusefultothee.”

18.“Namesaretheconsequentsofthings.”

19.ItisdifficultnottoconnectDante’sagonyatthiswedding-feastwithourknowledgethatinhertwenty-firstyearBeatricewasweddedtoSimonede’Bardi.Thatsheherselfwasthebrideonthisoccasionmightseemoutofthequestion,fromthefactofitsnotbeinginanywaysostated:butontheotherhand,Dante’ssilencethroughouttheVitaNuovaasregardshermarriage(whichmusthavebroughtdeepsorroweventohisideallove)issostartling,thatwemightalmostbeledtoconceiveinthispassagetheonlyintimationofitwhichhethoughtfittogive.

20.GuidoGuinicelli,inthecanzonewhichbegins,“WithinthegentleheartLovesheltershim.”

21.ThereisaplayintheoriginaluponthewordsPrimavera(Spring)andprimaverrà(sheshallcomefirst),towhichIhavegivenasnearanequivalentasIcould.

22.“Iamthevoiceofonecryinginthewilderness:‘PrepareyethewayoftheLord.’”

23.Thatis(asIunderstandit),suppressing,fromdelicacytowardshisfriend,thewordsinwhichLovedescribesJoanasmerelytheforerunnerofBeatrice.AndperhapsinthelatterpartofthissentenceareproachisgentlyconveyedtothefickleGuidoCavalcanti,whomayalreadyhavetransferredhishomage(thoughDantehadnotthenlearnedit)fromJoantoMandetta.

24.OnreadingDante’streatiseDeVulgariEloquio,itwillbefoundthatthedistinctionwhichheintendshereisnotbetweenonelanguage,ordialect,andanother;butbetween“vulgarspeech”(thatis,thelanguagehandeddownfrommothertosonwithoutanyconscioususeofgrammarorsyntax),andlanguageasregulatedbygrammariansandthelawsofliterarycomposition,andwhichDantecallssimply“Grammar.”Agreatdealmightbesaidonthebearingsofthepresentpassage,butitisnopartofmyplantoenteronsuchquestions.

25.i.e.,thelanguagesofProvenceandTuscany.

26.Itstrikesmethatthiscuriouspassagefurnishesareason,hitherto(Ibelieve)overlooked,whyDanteputsuchofhislyricalpoemsasrelatetophilosophyintotheformoflove-poems.HelikedwritinginItalianrhymeratherthanLatinmetre;hethoughtItalianrhymeoughttobeconfinedtolove-poems:thereforewhateverhewrote(atthisage)hadtotaketheformofalove-poem.ThusanypoembyDantenotconcerningloveislaterthanhistwenty-seventhyear(1291-2),whenhewrotetheproseoftheVitaNuova;thepoetryhavingbeenwrittenearlier,atthetimeoftheeventsreferredto.

27.“Howdoththecitysitsolitary,thatwasfullofpeople!howisshebecomeasawidow,shethatwasgreatamongthenations!”—LamentationsofJeremiah,i.I.

28.BeatricePortinariwillthusbefoundtohavediedduringthefirsthourofthe9thofJune,1290.AndfromwhatDantesaysatthecommencementofthiswork,(viz.,thatshewasyoungerthanhimselfbyeightorninemonths,)itmayalsobegatheredthatherage,atthetimeofherdeath,wastwenty-fouryearsandthreemonths.The“perfectnumber”mentionedinthepresentpassageisthenumberten.

29.Thusaccordingtosometexts.Themajority,however,addthewords,“AndthereforewasIinthought:”buttheshorterspeechisperhapsthemoreforcibleandpathetic.

30.BoccacciotellsusthatDantewasmarriedtoGemmaDonatiaboutayearafterthedeathof

Beatrice.CanGemmathenbe“theladyofthewindow,”hisloveforwhomDantesocontemns?Suchapassingconjecture(whenconsideredtogetherwiththeinterpretationofthispassageinDante’slaterwork,theConvito)wouldofcourseimplyanadmissionofwhatIbelievetolieattheheartofalltrueDantesquecommentary;thatis,theexistencealwaysoftheactualeventsevenwheretheallegoricalsuperstructurehasbeenraisedbyDantehimself.

31.TheVeronica(Veraicon,ortrueimage);thatis,thenapkinwithwhichawomanwassaidtohavewipedourSaviour’sfaceonHiswaytothecross,andwhichmiraculouslyretaineditslikeness.DantemakesmentionofitalsointheCommedia(Parad.xxi.103),wherehesays:—

“QualècoluicheforsediCroazia

VieneavederlaVeronicanostra,

Cheperl’anticafamanonsisazia

Madicenelpensierfinchesimostra:

SignormioGesùCristo,Iddioverace,

Orfusìfattalasembianzavostra?”etc.

32.ThiswemaybelievetohavebeentheVisionofHell,Purgatory,andParadise,whichfurnishedthetripleargumentoftheDivinaCommedia.TheLatinwordsendingtheVitaNuovaarealmostidenticalwiththoseatthecloseoftheletterinwhichDante,onconcludingtheParadise,andaccomplishingthehopehereexpressed,dedicateshisgreatworktoCanGrandedellaScala.

33.“Whoisblessedthroughoutallages.”

THESIDDALEDITIONOF

D.G.ROSSETTI’SWORKS.

VOLUMESNOWREADY.

THEHOUSEOFLIFE:ASONNETSEQUENCE.

BALLADS:ROSEMARY;THEWHITESHIP;THEKING’STRAGEDY.

THENEWLIFE(LAVITANUOVA)OFDANTEALIGHIERI.

Small8vo,withPhotogravureFrontispieces,clothextra,giltedges,price2s.6d.pervol.,net.

OTHERVOLUMESAREINPREPARATION.

ELLISANDELVEY29,NEWBONDSTREET,LONDON,W.

Transcriber’sNote:Originalspellingandpunctuationhavebeenpreserved.Minortypographicalerrorshavebeencorrectedwithoutnote.