[BACK]          [Blueprint]         [NEXT]

————————

From An Anthology of Italian Poems 13th-19th Century selected and translated by Lorna de’ Lucchi, Alfred A. Knopf, New York; 1922; pp. 18-19, 348.


[For purists, the Italian text of the poems follows the English translation.]



GUITTONE DE’ AREZZO, 1230-1294

Notes and translation by Lorna de’ Lucchi

348

Biographical Note

GUITTONE DEL VIVA AREZZO, born at Santa Firmina; entered the Order of the “frati gaudenti” in 1269; his poetical activity is divided into two distinct periods, the first characterized by amorous, the second by didactic style; he founded the monastery “degli angeli” in Florence, where it is thought that he died. His epistles, written to many famous Tuscans, are interesting examples of early Italian prose.




Poem

19

GUITTONE DE’ AREZZO, 1230-1294

Sonetto

O GLORIOUS Mother of sweet Jesus, by
Whose sacred death, us from Hell’s portals freeing,
Wiped out the sin, O Lady of the sky,
In which our primal father had his being,
Ah, see Love with his arrows sharp and bold,
What grievous fate he goadeth me unto!
O piteous Mother, dear ally, withhold
His unruly squadrons, let them not pursue!
     O grant to me the love which is divine
And draweth up our souls to Paradise,
So I may loose these passionate bonds of mine.
Herein the balm for this wild fury lies,
This water doth to quench this fire avail
As in a plank a nail drives forth a nail.








18

GUITTONE DE’ AREZZO, 1230-1294

Sonetto


DONNA del Cielo, glorïosa madre
del buon Gesù, la cui sagrata morte,
per liberarci dalle infernal porte,
tolse l’ error del primo nostro padre,
risguarda Amor con saette aspre e quadre,
a che strazio m’ adduce ed a qual sorte.
Madre pietosa, a noi cara consorte,
ritraine dal seguir sue turbe e squadre.
     Infondi in me di quel divino amore
che tira l’ alme nostre al primo loco,
si ch’ io disciolga l’ amoroso nodo.
Cotal rimedio ha questo aspro furore,
tal acqua suole spegner questo foco,
come d’ asse si trae chiodo con chiodo.






————————

[BACK]          [Blueprint]         [NEXT]

Valid CSS!