Be' mi dove'. Well might I in those days so fortunate, What time the sun lightened my path above,
Quand' el ministro de' sospir. When she who was the source of all my sighs, Fled from the world, herself, my straining sight,
Al cor di zolfo. A heart of flaming sulphur, flesh of tow, Bones of dry wood, a soul without a guide
Da che concetto. When divine Art conceives a form and face, She bids the craftsman for his first essay
S' un casto amor. If love be chaste, if virtue conquer ill, If fortune bind both lovers in one bond,
Se ben concetto. When that which is divine in us doth try To shape a face, both brain and hand unite
Gli astrologi antevista. Once on a time the astronomers foresaw The coming of a star to madden men:
Mentre l'acquila invola. While yet the eagle preys, and growls the bear; While roars the lion; while the crow defies
La scuola inimicissima. You sect most adverse to the good and true, Degenerate from your origin divine,
Se fu nel mondo. If men were happy in that age of gold, We yet may hope to see mild Saturn's reign;
Temo che per morir. I fear that by my death the human race Would gain no vantage. Thus I do not die.
Non Licida, n' Driope. Lycoris, Lycidas, and Dryope Cannot, dear Niblo, save thy name from death;
Abitator del mondo. Ye dwellers on this world, to the first Mind Exalt your eyes; and ye shall see how low
Se Dio ci d' la vita. God gives us life, and God our life preserves; Nay, all our happiness on Him doth rest:
La fabbrica del mondo. The fabric of the world--earth, air, and skies-- Each particle thereof and tiniest part
Babel disfatta. The golden head was Babylon; she passed: Persia came next, the silvern breast: whereto
Vilissima progenie. Ye vile offscourings! with unblushing face Dare ye claim sonship to our heavenly Sire,
Dov' ' la libert'. Where are the freedom and high feats that spring From fatherhood so fair as Deity?
Allor potrete orar. Then shall ye pray with every hour that flies; Thy kingdom come, and let Thy will be done
Quinci impara a stupirti. Here bend in boundless wonder; bow your head: Think how God's deathless Mind, that men might be
O tu ch' ami la parte. O you who love the part more than the whole, And love yourself more than all human kind,
Nessun ti verr' a dire. 'Behold, I am a Sophist!' no man saith. But the true sons of perfidy refined
Mentola al comun corpo. Organ of rut, not reason, is the lord Who from the body politic doth drain
Io nacqui a debellar. To quell three Titan evils I was made,-- Tyranny, Sophistry, Hypocrisy;
Se sol sei ore. If Christ was only six hours crucified After few years of toil and misery,
Da Roma ad Ostia. From Rome to Ostia a poor man went; Thieves robbed and wounded him upon the way;
Senno ed Amor. Wisdom and love, O Bina, gave thee wings, Before the blossom of thy years had faded,
Telesio, il telo. Telesius, the arrow from thy bow Midmost his band of sophists slays that high
In superbia il valor. Valour to pride hath turned; grave holiness To vile hypocrisy; all gentle ways
In noi dal senno. Valour and mind form real nobility, The which bears fruit and shows a fair increase
Se con lo stile. With pencil and with palette hitherto You made your art high Nature's paragon;
Le favole del mondo. The fables of the world have filched away The time I had for thinking upon God;
I' ho gi' fatto un gozzo. I've grown a goitre by dwelling in this den-- As cats from stagnant streams in Lombardy,