Dante Alighieri, a dark oracle Of wisdom and of art, I am; whose mind Has to my country such great gifts assigned That men account my powers a miracle. My lofty fancy passed as low as Hell, As high as Heaven, secure and unconfined; And in my noble book doth every kind Of earthly lore and heavenly doctrine dwell. Renowned Florence was my mother, -- nay, Stepmother unto me her piteous son, Through sin of cursed slander's tongue and tooth. Ravenna sheltered me so cast away; My body is with her, -- my soul with One For whom no envy can make dim the truth. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LA CONDUCTORA DEL DESEO/CONDUIT by VIRGIL SUAREZ VIGNETTES OVERSEAS: 7. ROME by SARA TEASDALE HENRY PURCELL by GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS COMRADES by GEORGE EDWARD WOODBERRY A RECEIPT FOR WRITING A NOVEL by MARY (CUMBERLAND) ALCOCK SONNET: MAN VERSUS ASCETIC. 4 by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON ON A LETTER: 2 by MATHILDE BLIND |