Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375). On Dante Alighieri. Samuel Waddington, comp. 1888. The Sonnets of Europe

Verse > Anthologies > Samuel Waddington, ed. > The Sonnets of Europe

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

On Dante Alighieri

By Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375)


Translated by F. C. Gray DANTE 1 am I,—Minerva’s son, who knew
With skill and genius (though in style obscure),
And elegance maternal to mature
My toil, a miracle to mortal view.
Through realms Tartarean and celestial flew	5
My lofty fancy, swift-winged and secure;
And ever shall my noble work endure,
Fit to be read of men, and angels too.
Florence my earthly mother’s glorious name;
Stepdame to me, whom from her side she thrust,	10
Her duteous son,—bear slanderous tongues the blame!
Ravenna housed my exile, holds my dust;
My spirit is with Him from whom it came,—
A Parent envy cannot make unjust!

Note 1. The following translation by Mr. Francis Hueffer of a sonnet addressed to Petrarch after his death by Boccaccio has been kindly forwarded to me by Mr. W. M. Rossetti. It unfortunately reached me too late for insertion amongst the Italian Sonnets in the foregoing selection.

	Sonnet Addressed to Petrarch after His Death, by Boccaccio

	NOW hast thou left me, master dear, now art
	At rest in that eternal house, where free
	From earthly strife God-chosen souls shall be
	When from this sinful world they do depart.
	Now art thou, where full many a time thy heart
	Drew thee thy Laura once again to see;
	Where with my beautiful Fiammetta she
	In God’s most blissful presence taketh part.
	Cino, Senuccio, Dante, thee around,
	Gazing on things our reason may not grasp,
	Calmly abide in sempiternal rest.
	If here thy trusty friend I have been found,
	Draw me to thee, that I may see and clasp
	Her who love’s flame first kindled in my breast.
	Francis Hueffer.

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CONTENTS · BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

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