Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume II. Love. 1904. | | | | II. Love’s Nature | | “If it be true that any beauteous thing” | | Michaelangelo (1475–1564) |
| | From the Italian by John Edward Taylor
IF it be true that any beauteous thing | |
| Raises the pure and just desire of man | |
| From earth to God, the eternal fount of all, | |
| Such I believe my love; for as in her | |
| So fair, in whom I all besides forget, | 5 |
| I view the gentle work of her Creator, | |
| I have no care for any other thing, | |
| Whilst thus I love. Nor is it marvellous, | |
| Since the effect is not of my own power, | |
| If the soul doth, by nature tempted forth, | 10 |
| Enamored through the eyes, | |
| Repose upon the eyes which it resembleth, | |
| And through them riseth to the Primal Love, | |
| As to its end, and honors in admiring; | |
| For who adores the Maker needs must love his work. | 15 | | | |
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