SONNET. GIULIANO De' medici. G. WHY, Death, thy hand on SERAFINO lay? D. "To me, and heav'n his worth annoyance wrought." G. Wherefore to thee? D. "Because by this he sought "To live for aye, and break my empire's sway." G. Wherefore to heav'n? D. "From heaven he stole away, "And heav'nly harmony to mortals taught." G. Why was his end by means so sudden brought? D. "Lest by his song he might my wrath allay." G. Is he then curs'd? D. "Not so; the powers above "Are soften'd by his presence, and who here "Hated him most, now honor him, and love." G. And thou? D. "To me remains remorse severe; "For not on Earth my power hath made him die, "And there in Heav'n he lives immortally." SONETTO DI ANGELO DA COSTANZA. CIGNI felici, che le rive e l'acqua Del fortunato MINCIO in guardia avete, Deh, s' egli è ver per Dio mi rispondete, Tra vostri nidi il VIRGILIO nacque ? gran Dimmi, bella SIRENA, Ove à lui piacque Trapassar' l' ore sue tranquille e liete, E ver' che 'n grembo à te morendo giacque ? Qual' maggior' Grazia aver dalla Fortuna Potea? qual' fin' conforme al nascer' tanto? Qual sepolcro più simile alla cuna? Ch' essendo nato tra' l söave canto Di bianchi Cigni, al fin' in veste bruna, Esser', dalle Sirene, in morte pianto? SONNET. ANGELO DA COSTANZA. YE who, where Mincio's hallow'd waters stray, Fortunate Swans, your faithful guard maintain, Tell, is it true, that 'mid your soft nests lain Great Virgil first beheld the light of day? And Thou, most beautiful of Sirens, say, (So may thy bones in peace for aye remain) Did He where erst he sung his sweetest strain, Mix'd with thine own his sacred ashes lay? For oh! what happier lot could he desire? What brighter dawn conduct to softer close? What tomb and cradle in their kind more meet? Than thus to life awaken'd by the quire Of tuneful swans; dying, to seek repose |