THE FIRST CANZONE OF THE CONVITO FROM THE ITALIAN OF DANTE [Published by Garnett, Relics of Shelley, 1862; dated 1820.] I YE who intelligent the Third Heaven move, II A sweet Thought, which was once the life within It saw a glorious Lady throned aloft; So that I said, 'Thither I too will fare.' That Thought is fled, and one doth now appear Mine eyes, and says-Who would have blessedness Let him not fear the agony of sighs. III This lowly Thought, which once would talk with me And said, Alas for me! how swift could flee That piteous Thought which did my life console! Mine eyes, if such a Lady saw they never, I said: 'Beneath those eyes might stand for ever He whom regards must kill with . To have known their power stood me in little stead, IV "Thou art not dead, but thou hast wandered, A Spirit of gentle Love beside me said; 5 1Ο 15 20 25 30 35 40 Hath so transformed the life which thou hast led, And still call thou her Woman in thy thought; My song, I fear that thou wilt find but few Of such hard matter dost thou entertain. Quite unaware of what thou dost contain, My last delight; tell them that they are dull, MATILDA GATHERING FLOWERS FROM THE PURGATORIO OF DANTE, CANTO XXVIII, ll. 1-51 [Published in part (ll. 1-8, 22-51) by Medwin, The Angler in Wales, 1834, Life of Shelley, 1847; reprinted in full by Garnett, Relics of Shelley, 1862.] AND earnest to explore within-around The divine wood, whose thick green living woof In which the leaves tremblingly were a The 1862; That 1834. Up a green slope, beneath the starry roof, 6 inmost 1862; leafy 1834. 5 ΙΟ 9 So 1862; The slow, soft stroke of a Like the sweet breathing of a child asleep : Perceived not where I ventured, but no fear Yet were they not so shaken from the rest, With perfect joy received the early day, Such as from bough to bough gathers around 15 20 My slow steps had already borne me o'er When, lo! a stream whose little waves went by, My going on. Water of purest hue Dark, dark, yet clear, moved under the obscure I moved not with my feet, but mid the glooms 25 30 35 Which starred that night, when, even as a thing Charms every sense, and makes all thought take wing, A solitary woman! and she went Singing and gathering flower after flower, With which her way was painted and besprent. 'Bright lady, who, if looks had ever power Dost bask under the beams of love, come lower 13 the 1862; their cj. Rossetti, 1870. 28 hue 1862; dew 1834. 40 45 26 through] the cj. Rossetti. 32 Eternal 30 dew 1862; hue 1834. shades 1862; Of the close boughs 1834. 33 So 1862; No ray of moon or sunshine would endure 1834. 34, 35 So 1862; My feet were motionless, but mid the glooms 37 Which 1834; That 1862. 39 So 1834; Dissolves all other thought... 1862. 40 So 1862; Appeared a solitary maid-she went 1834. Towards this bank. I prithee let me win FRAGMENT ADAPTED FROM THE VITA NUOVA OF DANTE [Published by Forman, P. W. of P. B. S., 1876.] UGOLINO1 INFERNO XXxiii. 22-75 [Translated by Medwin and corrected by Shelley.] Now had the loophole of that dungeon, still Which bears the name of Famine's Tower from me, Be doomed to linger in captivity, Shown through its narrow opening in my cell Moon after moon slow waning, when a sleep, 50 5 To see, that tyrant Lord his revels keep, ΙΟ Chasing the wolf and wolf-cubs up the steep And then the sharp fangs gored their bosoms deep. 15 20 46 Towards 1862; Unto 1834. 47 thee, to come 1862; thee O come 1834. Published by Medwin, Life of Shelley, 1847, with Shelley's corrections in italics.-ED. In thinking of my soul's sad augury; And if thou weepest not now, weep never more! The allotted hour for food, and in that hour The outlet; then into their eyes alone Or word. I wept not-turned within to stone. They wept aloud, and little Anselm mine, Said 'twas my youngest, dearest little one, 'What ails thee, father? Why look so at thine?' In all that day, and all the following night, Of the new sun, and thwart my prison thrown Gleamed through its narrow chink, a doleful sight, Were imaged by its faint and ghastly ray; "Twas done from sudden pangs, in their excess, Would you but eat of us,-'twas you who clad Despoil them.' Not to make their hearts more sad, I hushed myself. That day is at its close,- 25 30 35 40 45 50 The fourth day dawned, and when the new sun shone, 55 Outstretched himself before me as it rose My Gaddo, saying, 'Help, father! hast thou none For thine own child-is there no help from thee?' Between the fifth and sixth day, ere 'twas dawn, Famine of grief can get the mastery. 60 |