Se Virgilio et Homero avessin visto
quel sole il qual vegg'io con gli occhi miei,
tutte lor forze in dar fama a costei
avrian posto, et l'un stil coll'altro misto:
di che sarebbe Enea turbato et tristo,
Achille, Ulixe et gli altri semidei,
et quel che resse anni cinquantasei
sí bene il mondo et quel ch'ancise Egisto.
Quel fior anticho di vertuti et d'arme
come sembiante stella ebbe con questo
novo fior d'onestate et di bellezze!
Ennio di quel cantò ruvido carme,
di quest'altro io: et oh pur non molesto
gli sia il mio ingegno, e 'l mio lodar non sprezze!
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If Virgil and Homer had seen that sun
that I can see with my eyes,
all their power would have been given
to praising her, blending both styles in one:
making Aeneas troubled and sad,
Achilles, Ulysses and the other demi-gods,
and him who ruled the Empire so well
for fifty years, and him whom Aegisthus killed.
That ancient flower of arms and virtue, Scipio,
suffered a similar fate to this new flower
of chastity and of every beauty!
Ennius sang of him in rough metres
as I do her: and oh may my art
not annoy her, and she not scorn my praise!
Note:
Augustus ruled for fifty years: Agamemnon
was murdered by Aegisthus: Scipio Africanus Major
(c 2 3 6 - c 1 8 3 BC) was eulogised by Ennius in his Annals.
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