Beyond the widest orbit of the spheres,

My sigh flies upward, issuing from the heart;

Love doth perceptions new to it impart

Which draw it heavenwards, whiles he sheddeth tears.
And when unto the wishedfor spot it nears

It views a Lady placed in honour high;
Who, in her brightness shining splendidly,
Unto my Pilgrim spirit thus appears.
When it recounts her Glory whom it sees,
I understand not its refined speech

To my sad heart, which bids its accents flow.
I know that of my Lady it would teach,

Because it often nameth Beatrice.

Thus much, O Ladies dear! I full know.

Soon after writing this Sonnet, a wonderful Vision appeared to me, in which I saw things that made me determine to write no more of this beatified Lady until I could treat of her in a manner more suited to her dignity. In order to arrive at which, I study with all my might, as she well knows. So that if it be the will of Him in whom all things have their being, that my life should continue for a few years longer, I hope to speak of her as no woman was ever spoken of before. And may it please Him who is the God of mercy, that my soul may ascend to behold the Glory of its Lady, the blessed Beatrice, who in a beatified state seeth Him face to face, "Qui est per omnia sæcula benedictus." (Who is blessed for evermore).

FINIS.

APPENDIX.

Vedesti al mio parere ogni valore,

E tutto gioco, e quanto ben uom sente,
Se fusti in pruova del signor valente,
Che signoreggia il mondo de l' onore;
Poi vive in parte, dove noia muore;

E tien ragion ne la pietosa mente:
Si va soave ne' sonni a la gente,
Che i cor ne porta senza far romore.
Di te lo core nè portò; veggendo

Che la tua donna la morte chiedea,
Nudrilla dello cor, di ciò temendo.
Quando t'apparve, che ne gia dogliendo,
Fu dolce sono, ch' allor si compiea,

Che 'l suo contrario lo venia vincendo.

1 Preso dall' edizione delle Rime di Cavalcanti pubblicata da Ant. Cicciaporci, Firenze 1613, in-8, ma colle varianti del Codice Vaticano 3214, nel 1842 da Salvatore Betti, le quali ammegliorano la lezione.

The three following Sonnets are the answers returned to the first Sonnet of Dante, the meaning of the original is not always clear, but it is amusing to see the different views of men of talent on the same subject, in those days.

Thou saw'st all power (so does my judgmeut say)
And joy, and every good which man can know,
If thou wert tried by that great sovreign, who
Throughout the world of honor holds his sway,
Who dwells where every sorrow dies away,

And o'er the gentle mind has influence too.
Softly midst pleasing slumbers doth he go,
And then abstracts men's hearts, all noiselesly.
And thine he took away, when he did know
That death was sought for by thy lady fair,
And on that heart he fed her, tremblingly.
And his departure, whilst his tears did flow
Was but thy gentle sleep which ended there,
Succeeded, conquered, by its contrary."

1 Taken from the edition of « Rime di Cavalcantin published by Ant. Cicciaporci, Florence 1613, but with the alterations of the Codex Vaticano 3214, published in 1842 by Salvatore Betti, by which it was much improved.

2 Succeded by disagreable dreams.