Note 35 — Chapter II
Reading edition
For example, when the Madonna is represented looking at the cross, and addressing her expiring son:—
Fiio, siempre oviemos · io è tu una vida; Io à ti quisi mucho, · è fui de ti querida; Io sempre te crey, · è fui de ti creida; La tu piedad larga · ahora me oblida? Fiio, non me oblides · è lievame contigo, Non me finca en sieglo · mas de un buen amigo; Juan quem dist por fiio · aqui plora conmigo: Ruegote quem condones · esto que io te digo. St. 78, 79.
I read these stanzas with a feeling akin to that with which I should look at a picture on the same subject by Perugino. They may be translated thus:—
My son, in thee and me · life still was felt as one; I loved thee much, and thou lovedst me · in perfectness, my son; My faith in thee was sure, · and I thy faith had won; And doth thy large and pitying love · forget me now, my son? My son, forget me not, · but take my soul with thine; The earth holds but one heart · that kindred is with mine,— John, whom thou gavest to be my child, · who here with me doth pine; I pray thee, then, that to my prayer · thou graciously incline.