Love
Vita Nuova: 'For certain he hath seen all perfectness'
Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1861; text of the Ellis and Elvey edition, 1899) · From La Vita Nuova
For certain he hath seen all perfectness
Who among other ladies hath seen mine:
They that go with her humbly should combine
To thank their God for such peculiar grace.
So perfect is the beauty of her face
That it begets in no wise any sign
Of envy, but draws round her a clear line
Of love, and blessed faith, and gentleness.
Merely the sight of her makes all things bow:
Not she herself alone is holier
Than all; but hers, through her, are raised above.
From all her acts such lovely graces flow
That truly one may never think of her
Without a passion of exceeding love.
Cite this poem
MLA
Dante Alighieri. “Vita Nuova: 'For certain he hath seen all perfectness'.” Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dante/18/.
Chicago
Dante Alighieri. “Vita Nuova: 'For certain he hath seen all perfectness'.” Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dante/18/.
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