A Literary History of the English People, from the Origins to the Renaissance

Note 498 — from the Origins To the Renaissance (continued 5)

Reading edition

In sogno mi parea veder sospesa Un' aquila nel ciel con penne d'oro Con l'ali aperte, ed a calare intesa.... Poi mi parea, che piu rotata un poco, Terribil come folgor discendesse, E me rapisse suso infino al foco. ("Purgatorio," canto ix.)

In Chaucer:

Me thoughte I saw an egle sore ... Hit was of golde and shoon so bright That never saw men such a sighte ... Me, fleinge, at a swappe he hente, And with his sours agayn up wente, Me caryinge in his clawes starke. (ll. 449, 503, 542.)

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