| Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888. | | | | Love, the Musician | | By Francesco Redi (1626–1697) |
| | Translated by Edmund Gosse
LOVE is the Minstrel; for in God’s own sight, | |
| The master of all melody, he stands, | |
| And holds a golden rebeck in his hands, | |
| And leads the chorus of the saints in light; | |
| But ever and anon those chambers bright | 5 |
| Detain him not, for down to these low lands | |
| He flies, and spreads his musical commands, | |
| And teaches men some fresh divine delight. | |
| For with his bow he strikes a single chord | |
| Across a soul, and wakes in it desire | 10 |
| To grow more pure and lovely, and aspire | |
| To that ethereal country where, outpoured | |
| From myriad stars that stand before the Lord, | |
| Love’s harmonies are like a flame of fire. | | | | |
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