Love
Vita Nuova: 'All my thoughts always speak to me of Love'
Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1861; text of the Ellis and Elvey edition, 1899) · From La Vita Nuova
All my thoughts always speak to me of Love,
Yet have between themselves such difference
That while one bids me bow with mind and sense,
A second saith, “Go to: look thou above;”
The third one, hoping, yields me joy enough;
And with the last come tears, I scarce know whence:
All of them craving pity in sore suspense,
Trembling with fears that the heart knoweth of.
And thus, being all unsure which path to take,
Wishing to speak I know not what to say,
And lose myself in amorous wanderings:
Until, (my peace with all of them to make,)
Unto mine enemy I needs must pray,
My Lady Pity, for the help she brings.
Cite this poem
MLA
Dante Alighieri. “Vita Nuova: 'All my thoughts always speak to me of Love'.” Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/dante/6/.
Chicago
Dante Alighieri. “Vita Nuova: 'All my thoughts always speak to me of Love'.” Translated by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/dante/6/.
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