I
  DANTE AI FEDELI D'AMORE. 

   
  A ciascun'alma presa e gentil core 
    nel cui cospetto ven lo dir presente, 
    in ciò che mi rescrivan suo parvente, 
    salute in lor segnor, cioè Amore. 
    Già eran quasi che atterzate l'ore 
    del tempo che onne stella n'è lucente, 
    quando m'apparve Amor subitamente, 
    cui essenza membrar mi dà orrore. 
  Allegro mi sembrava Amor tenendo 
    meo core in mano, e ne le braccia avea 
    madonna involta in un drappo dormendo. 
    Poi la svegliava, e d'esto core ardendo 
    lei paventosa umilmente pascea: 
    appresso gir lo ne vedea piangendo. 
   
  

I
  DANTE ALIGHIERI TO OTHER POETS 

  {LOVE'S FAITHFUL ONES}

   To every captive soul and gentle heart 
into whose sight this poem may come, 
that each may write back to me what he makes 
of it, a greeting to his lord, that is Love. 
Already almost a third of the hours 
had passed by of the time in which all the stars 
shine clear, when suddenly Love appeared to me 
in a form that is terrifying to remember.
   Love seemed joyful, holding my heart 
in his hand, while in his arms he had my lady
wrapped in a cloth, asleep.
Then he awoke her and, though she was afraid, 
he humbly fed her with this heart which was 
burning. Then I saw him go away weeping.