FROM THE ITALIAN OF CAVALCANTI.
Percy Bysshe Shelley
GUIDO CAVALCANTI TO DANTE ALIGHIERI:
[Published by Forman (who assigns it to 1815), “Poetical Works of P. B.
S.”, 1876.]
Returning from its daily quest, my Spirit
Changed thoughts and vile in thee doth weep to find:
It grieves me that thy mild and gentle mind
Those ample virtues which it did inherit
Has lost. Once thou didst loathe the multitude _5
Of blind and madding men—I then loved thee—
I loved thy lofty songs and that sweet mood
When thou wert faithful to thyself and me
I dare not now through thy degraded state
Own the delight thy strains inspire—in vain _10
I seek what once thou wert—we cannot meet
And we were wont. Again and yet again
Ponder my words: so the false Spirit shall fly
And leave to thee thy true integrity.
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