Sonnet XXIX
SONNET XXIX.
Due gran nemiche insieme erano aggiunte.
THE UNION OF BEAUTY AND VIRTUE IS DISSOLVED BY HER DEATH.
Two mortal foes in one fair breast combined,Beauty and Virtue, in such peace alliedThat ne'er rebellion ruffled that pure mind,But in rare union dwelt they side by side;By Death they now are shatter'd and disjoin'd;One is in heaven, its glory and its pride,One under earth, her brilliant eyes now blind,Whence stings of love once issued far and wide.That winning air, that rare discourse and meek,Surely from heaven inspired, that gentle glanceWhich wounded my poor heart, and wins it still,Are gone; if I am slow her road to seek,I hope her fair and graceful name perchanceTo consecrate with this worn weary quill.
Macgregor. Within one mortal shrine two foes had met—Beauty and Virtue—yet they dwelt so bright,That ne'er within the soul did they exciteRebellious thought, their union might beget:[Pg 258]But, parted to fulfil great nature's debt,One blooms in heaven, exulting in its height;Its twin on earth doth rest, from whose veil'd nightNo more those eyes of love man's soul can fret.That speech by Heaven inspired, so humbly wise—That graceful air—her look so winning, meek,That woke and kindles still my bosom's pain—They all have fled; but if to gain her skiesI tardy seem, my weary pen would seekFor her blest name a consecrated reign!