Quel, che d'odore et di color vincea
l'odorifero et lucido orïente,
frutti fiori herbe et frondi (onde 'l ponente
d'ogni rara eccellentia il pregio avea),
dolce mio lauro, ove habitar solea
ogni bellezza, ogni vertute ardente,
vedeva a la sua ombra honestamente
il mio signor sedersi et la mia dea.
Ancor io il nido di penseri electi
posi in quell'alma pianta; e 'n foco e 'n gielo
tremando, ardendo, assai felice fui.
Pieno era il mondo de' suoi honor' perfecti,
allor che Dio per adornarne il cielo
la si ritolse: et cosa era da lui.
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That which in scent and colour overcame
the fragrant and the shining Orient,
fruit, flowers, grass, and leaves (in which
the West has the prize for all rare excellence),
my sweet laurel, where every beauty
used to live, every burning virtue,
saw my lord, and my goddess,
seated in its virtuous shade.
More, I placed the nest of choicest thought
in that kindly tree: and in fire and ice
I trembled, burning, I was so happy.
This world was filled with her perfect worth,
when God reclaimed her to adorn the heavens:
and she was a being sent from Him.
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