Note 111 — BOOK I. FROM THE END OF THE THIRTEENTH TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.
Thomasina Ross translation
The commencement of one of his songs, the two first strophes of which are subjoined, is exceedingly beautiful; but in the sequel the lyric spark is extinguished by pedantry.
Muy mas clara que la luna sola una en el mundo vos nacistes, tan gentil, que no vecistes ni tuvistes competidora ninguna, Desde niñez en la cuna cobrastes fama, beldad, con tanta graciosidad, que vos doto la fortuna. Que assi vos organizo y formò la composicion humana, que vos soys la mas loçana, soberana que la natura criò. Quien sino vos mereciò de virtudes ser monarcha? Quanto bien dixo Petrarcha, por vos lo profetizo.
It would be absurd to attempt the translation of many of the specimens which are necessary to the illustration of this work; and with respect to these lines the tender breathing of the poetry would be entirely lost in a literal version.