Francesco Redi (1626–1697)

Translated by Edmund Gosse

THAT Love,—whose power and sovranty we own,

And who before all time was did beget

The sun and moon and splendid stars, and set

All lovely things to speak of Him alone,—

Late looking earthward from his supreme throne

Saw that,—although the beauty lingered yet,—

The froward heart of man did quite forget

That all this beauty from His presence shone;

Wherefore, desiring to reclaim his eyes

To heaven by some unequalled new delight,

He gave the world a treasure from the skies,

My Lady’s sacred beauty, pure and bright,

Whose body is a robe of woven light,

And fashioned in the looms of Paradise.