WHATEVER WHILE THE THOUGHT COMES OVER ME

by: Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)

      HATEVER while the thought comes over me
      That I may not again
      Behold that lady whom I mourn for now,
      About my heart my mind brings constantly
      So much of extreme pain
      That I say, Soul of mine, who stayest thou?
      Truly the anguish, soul, that we must bow
      Beneath, until we win out of this life,
      Gives me full oft a fear that trembleth:
      So that I call on Death
      Even as on Sleep one calleth after strife,
      Saying, Come unto me. Life showeth grim
      And bare; and if one dies, I envy him,
       
      For ever, among all my sighs which burn,
      There is a piteous speech
      That clamors upon death continually:
      Yea, unto him doth my whole spirit turn
      Since first his hand did reach
      My lady's life with most foul cruelty.
      But from the height of woman's fairness she,
      Going up from us with the joy we had,
      Grew perfectly and spiritually fair;
      That so she treads even there
      A light of Love which makes the Angels glad,
      And even unto their subtle minds can bring
      A certain awe of profound marveling.

"Whatever while the thought comes over me" was translated into English by D.G. Rossetti (1828-1882).

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