Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)

From ‘La Vita Nuova’

Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

THAT lady of all gentle memories

Had lighted on my soul;—whose new abode

Lies now, as it was well ordained of God,

Among the poor in heart, where Mary is.

Love, knowing that dear image to be his,

Woke up within the sick heart sorrow-bow’d,

Unto the sighs which are its weary load

Saying, ‘Go forth.’ And they went forth, I wis;

Forth went they from my breast that throbbed and ached;

With such a pang as oftentimes will bathe

Mine eyes with tears when I am left alone.

And still those sighs which drew the heaviest breath

Came whispering thus: ‘O noble intellect!

It is a year to-day that thou art gone.’