Essential Dante Lyric
This is at the heart of Dante's early spiritual and poetic autobiography:
Donne Ch'Avete Intelletto d' Amore
Ladies who are wise in love,
I wish to speak to you about my lady,
not thinking to praise her completely
but to talk to you to relieve my heart.
I tell you, when I think of her perfection,
Love lets me feel the sweetness of his presence,
and if at that point I could still feel bold,
my words could make all mankind fall in love.
I do not want to choose a style too lofty,
for fear that such ambition would make me timid;
instead I shall discuss her graciousness
in a fashion inadequate to her worth,
with you, Ladies and maidens whom Love knows,
for such a theme is only fit for you.
The mind of God receives an angel’s prayer:
“My Lord, there appears to be upon your earth
a living miracle, proceeding from
a radiant soul whose light reaches us here.”
Heaven, that lacks its full perfection only
in lacking her, pleads for her to the Lord,
and every saint is begging for this favor.
Compassion for his creatures still remains,
for god, who knows they are speaking of my lady,
says, “Chosen ones, now suffer happily
that she, your hope, live her appointed time
for the sake of one down there who fears his loss,
and who shall say unto the damned in Hell:
“I have beheld the hope of Heaven’s blest.”
My lady is desired in the highest Heaven.
Now let me tell you also of her power.
a lady who aspires to graciousness
should seek her company, for where she goes
Love drives a killing frost into vile hearts
that freezes and destroys what they are thinking;
should such a one insist on looking at her,
he is changed into something noble or he dies.
And if she finds one worthy to behold her,
that man will feel her power for salvation
when she gives to him her greeting,
which humbles him until he forgets all wrongs.
God has graced her with an even greater gift:
whoever speaks with her shall speak with Him.
Love says of her, “How can a mortal body
achieve such beauty and such purity?’
He looks again and swears it must be true;
God does have something new in mind for earth.
Her color is the pale of pearl,
a tone perfect for such a lady;
she is the best Nature can achieve
and by her measure all beauty tests itself;
her eyes, wherever she may choose to look,
send forth their spirits radiant with love
to strike the eyes of anyone they meet,
and penetrate until they find the heart.
You will find my love depicted on her face,
there where no one dares hold his gaze too long.
My song, I know that you will go and speak
to many ladies when I bid you leave,
and since I brought you up as Love’s true child,
ingenuous and plain, let me advise you
to beg of anybody that you meet:
“Please help me find my way; I have been sent
to the lady with whose praise I am adorned.”
And so that you may not have gone in vain,
do not waste time with any vulgar people;
Only with those ladies should you share your meaning
or with men who may be worthy;
they will direct you by the quickest path.
You will find Love and with him find our lady.
Speak well of me to Love. It is your duty.
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