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CANZONE (HIS PORTRAIT OF HIS LADY ANGIOLA OF VERONA), by                    
First Line: I look at the crisp golden-threaded hair
Last Line: Within whose light all other glory dies?'
Alternate Author Name(s): Bonifazio Degli Uberti


I LOOK at the crisp golden-threaded hair
Whereof, to thrall my heart, Love twists a net.
Using at times a string of pearls for bait,
And sometimes with a single rose therein.
I look into her eyes which unaware
Through mine own eyes to my heart penetrate;
Their splendour, that is excellently great,
To the sun's radiance seeming near akin,
Yet from herself a sweeter light to win.

So that I, gazing on that lovely one,
Discourse in this wise with my secret thought:--
'Woe 's me! why am I not,
Even as my wish, alone with her alone,--
That hair of hers, so heavily uplaid,
To shed down braid by braid,
And make myself two mirrors of her eyes
Within whose light all other glory dies?'





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