Page:Pascoli - Paulo Ucello.djvu/11

 O those who knew and loved Romola Piggott this little book is offered as a tribute to her memory. The task of rendering Pascoli’s beautiful poem into English occupied some of the weary hours spent at Ventnor during the early part of the year, when she made her last gallant stand for life, or rather, for the health and strength sufficient for her work, without which, for her, life itself was valueless.

The poem was submitted in manuscript to Mr. George M. Trevelyan, than whom few living Englishmen have a wider knowledge of Italy and of Italian literature. His judgment of it is given in a letter written from the Italian front, where he was at the time engaged in organizing the British Ambulance Unit for Italy. He will perhaps forgive the use made of his letter in printing it here.

Dear Sir,

Dr. Brock has given me your sister’s poem-translation to read. It was a great privilege to read it, and a very moving contrast to our surroundings and work here just now – except that it breathed of Italy.

I think that it is not only an excellent translation, but what is rare in translations, a beautiful poem in itself. I sincerely trust that so fine a piece of work will find a means of appearing to the world.
 * Yours very truly,
 * G. M. TREVELYAN.

December 1915.