On the Vita Nuova of Dante
AS he that loves oft looks on the dear form
And guesses how it grew to womanhood,
And gladly would have watched the beauties bud
And the mild fire of precious life wax warm:
So I, long bound within the threefold charm
Of Dante’s love sublimed to heavenly mood,
Had marvelled, touching his Beatitude,
How grew such presence from man’s shameful swarm.
At length within this book I found pourtrayed
Newborn that Paradisal Love of his,
And simple like a child; with whose clear aid
I understood. To such a child as this,
Christ, charging well His chosen ones, forbade
Offence: “for lo! of such my kingdom is.”
