Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)

Translated by Sir Theodore Martin
From the “Vita Nuova”

ART thou the man, who hast so often sung

To us the worth that in our lady lies?

Thy voice is his full surely, but thy guise

Proclaims thee of a different lineage sprung.

Why dost thou weep, with heart so sorely wrung,

That others look on thee with pitying eyes?

Say, hast thou seen her weep, and in such wise,

Thou could’st not hide the grief that to thee clung?

Leave us to weep, and sadly range along.

He doth a sin who seeks to comfort us;

For we have heard her in her anguish cry;

And so deject her look, and piteous,

That whosoe’er should view such sorrow’s wrong,

Must feel his heart for grief within him die.