Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). On the 9th June 1290. Samuel Waddington, comp. 1888. The Sonnets of Europe

Samuel Waddington, comp. The Sonnets of Europe. 1888.

On the 9th June 1290

By Dante Alighieri (1265–1321)


Translated by Henry Francis Cary CAME Melancholy to my side one day,
And said, “I must a little bide with thee;”
And brought along with her in company
Sorrow and Wrath. Quoth I to her, “Away:
I will have none of you: make no delay.”	5
And, like a Greek, she gave me stout reply.
Then, as she talked, I looked and did espy
Where Love was coming onward on the way.
A garment new of cloth of black he had,
And on his head a hat of mourning wore:	10
And he, of truth, unfeignedly was crying.
Forthwith I asked: “What ails thee, caitiff lad?”
And he rejoined: “Sad thoughts and anguish sore,
Sweet brother mine! our lady lies a-dying.”