Stories from the Italian Poets: with Lives of the Writers, Volume 2 by Leigh Hunt
page 38 of 371 (10%)
page 38 of 371 (10%)
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[Footnote 1: "Con parlar basso e bei ragionamenti."]
[Footnote 2: _Video meliora, proboque, &c._ Writers were now beginning to pride themselves on their classical reading. The present occasion, it must be owned, was a very good one for introducing the passage from Horace. The previous words have an affecting ingenuousness; and, indeed, the whole stanza is beautiful: "Io non mi posso dal cor dipartire La dolce vista del viso sereno, Perch'io mi sento senza lei morire, E 'l spirto a poco a poco venir meno. Or non mi vale forza, nè l'ardire Contra d' amor, the m' ha già posto il freno; Nè mi giova saper, ne altrui consiglio: Il meglio veggio, ed al peggior m'appiglio." Alas! I cannot, though I shut mine eyes, Lose the sweet look of that delightful face; The very soul within me droops and dies, To think that I may fail to gain her grace. No strong limbs now, no valour, will suffice To burst the spell that roots me to the place: No, nor reflection, nor advice, nor force; I see the better part, and clasp the worse.] [Footnote 3: [Greek: Argureais logchaisi machou, kai panta krataeseis.] "Make war with silver spears, and you'll beat all." |
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