Love
Sonnet: He compares all Things with his Lady, and finds them wanting
Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1861) · From The Early Italian Poets (1861)
Beauty in woman; the high will's decree;
Fair knighthood arm'd for manly exercise;
The pleasant song of birds; love's soft replies;
The strength of rapid ships upon the sea;
The serene air when light begins to be;
The white snow, without wind that falls and lies;
Fields of all flower; the place where waters rise;
Silver and gold; azure in jewellery:—
Weigh'd against these, the sweet and quiet worth
Which my dear lady cherishes at heart
Might seem a little matter to be shown;
Being truly, over these, as much apart
As the whole heaven is greater than this earth.
All good to kindred natures cleaveth soon.
Cite this poem
MLA
Cavalcanti, Guido. “Sonnet: He compares all Things with his Lady, and finds them wanting.” Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/cavalcanti/2/.
Chicago
Cavalcanti, Guido. “Sonnet: He compares all Things with his Lady, and finds them wanting.” Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/cavalcanti/2/.
Read this poem with the Codex →
More by Guido Cavalcanti
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- Sonnet: He speaks of a third Love of his
- Sonnet: Guido answers, commending Pinella, and saying that the Love he can offer her is already shared by many noble Ladies
- Sonnet: To a newly enriched Man; reminding him of the Wants of the Poor
- Canzone: He laments the Presumption and Incontinence of his Youth