Page:Dante and His Circle, with the Italian Poets Preceding Him.djvu/146

102 Made semblance then to guide them safely forth:

And they put faith in her:

Till, gathering them within her garment all,

She turned their blessed peace to tears and gall.

Then I (for I could hear how they complained,)

As sympathy impelled,

Full oft to seek her presence did arise.

And mine own soul (which better had refrained)

So much my strength upheld

That I could steadily behold her eyes.

This in thy knowledge lies.

Who then didst call me with so mild a face

That I hoped solace from my greater load:

And when she turned the key on my dark place,

Such ruth thy grace bestowed

Upon my grief, and in such piteous kind,

That I had strength to bear, and was resign'd.

For love of the sweet favour's comforting

Did I become her thrall;

And still her every movement gladdened me

With triumph that I served so sweet a thing:

Pleasures and blessings all

I set aside, my perfect hope to see:

Till her proud contumely—

That so mine aim might rest unsatisfied—

Covered the beauty of her countenance.

So straightway fell into my living side,

To slay me, the swift lance:

While she rejoiced and watched my bitter end,

Only to prove what succour thou wouldst send.

I therefore, weary with my love's constraint,

To death's deliverance ran,

That out of terrible grief I might be brought:

For tears had broken me and left me faint

Beyond the lot of man,