DEATH, ALWAYS CRUEL
by: Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)
 EATH, always
cruel, Pity's foe in chief,
- Mother who brought forth grief,
- Merciless judgment and without appeal!
- Since thou alone hast made my heart to feel
- This sadness and unweal,
- My tongue upbraideth thee without relief.
-
- And now (for I must rid thy name of ruth)
- Behoves me speak the truth
- Touching thy cruelty and wickedness:
- Not that they be not known; but ne'ertheless
- I would give hate more stress
- With them that feed on love in very sooth.
-
- Out of this world thou hast driven courtesy,
- And virtue, dearly prized in womanhood;
- And out of youth's gay mood
- The lovely lightness is quite gone through thee.
-
- Whom now I mourn, no man shall learn from me
- Save by the measure of these praises given.
- Whoso deserves not Heaven
- May never hope to have her company.
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"Death, always cruel"
was translated into English by D.G. Rossetti (1828-1882). |
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