Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888.

On the 9th June 1290

Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)

CAME Melancholy to my side one day,

And said, “I must a little bide with thee;”

And brought along with her in company

Sorrow and Wrath. Quoth I to her, “Away:

I will have none of you: make no delay.”

And, like a Greek, she gave me stout reply.

Then, as she talked, I looked and did espy

Where Love was coming onward on the way.

A garment new of cloth of black he had,

And on his head a hat of mourning wore:

And he, of truth, unfeignedly was crying.

Forthwith I asked: “What ails thee, caitiff lad?”

And he rejoined: “Sad thoughts and anguish sore,

Sweet brother mine! our lady lies a-dying.”