Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, LA VITA NUOVA: SONNET OF BEATRICE DE PORTINARI, ON ALL SAINTS' DAY, by DANTE ALIGHIERI


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

LA VITA NUOVA: SONNET OF BEATRICE DE PORTINARI, ON ALL SAINTS' DAY, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: Last all saints' holy-day, even now gone by
Last Line: Blessed are they who meet her on the earth.
Alternate Author Name(s): Dante; Alighieri, Dante
Subject(s): All Saints' Day; Beatrice Portinari (1266-1290); Allhallowmas; Allhallows


Of Beatrice de' Portinari, on All Saints' Day
Last All Saints' holy-day, even now gone by,
I met a gathering of damozels:
She that came first, as one doth who excels,
Had Love with her, bearing her company:
A flame burned forward through her steadfast eye,
As when in living fire a spirit dwells:
So, gazing with the boldness which prevails
O'er doubt, I knew an angel visibly.
As she passed on, she bowed her mild approof
And salutation to all men of worth,
Lifting the soul to solemn thoughts aloof.
In Heaven itself that lady had her birth,
I think, and is with us for our behoof:
Blessed are they who meet her on the earth.





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