Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Italy: Vols. XI–XIII. 1876–79. | | | | Ravenna | | Beatrice | | Henry Sewell Stokes (1808–1895) |
| | | ’T WAS in Ravenna Dante’s daughter dwelt, | |
| Under the shadow of Saint Stephen’s tower, | |
| Poor and forlorn, her name the only dower | |
| From him beside whose tomb she often knelt. | |
| Florence, repenting late, compassion felt, | 5 |
| And thence one day a stranger came with gold, | |
| Which to the Nun, so saintly and so cold, | |
| He proffered smiling, while his heart did melt. | |
| No other than Boccaccio brought the gift, | |
| Who as a son revered and loved her sire; | 10 |
| And when she did her hood all meekly lift | |
| To render grateful answer and retire, | |
| He by the father’s portrait knew the child, | |
| And wept, as she returned her thanks and smiled. | | | | |
|
|
