The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti Edited with Preface and Notes by William M. Rossetti: Revised and Enlarged Edition |
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 | The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti |  |
XXI
Ballata
Concerning a Shepherd-maid
Within a copse I met a shepherd-maid,
More fair, I said, than any star to see.
More fair, I said, than any star to see.
She came with waving tresses pale and bright,
With rosy cheer, and loving eyes of flame,
Guiding the lambs beneath her wand aright.
Her naked feet still had the dews on them,
As, singing like a lover, so she came;
Joyful, and fashioned for all ecstasy.
With rosy cheer, and loving eyes of flame,
Guiding the lambs beneath her wand aright.
Her naked feet still had the dews on them,
As, singing like a lover, so she came;
Joyful, and fashioned for all ecstasy.
I greeted her at once, and question made
What escort had she through the woods in spring.
But with soft accents she replied and said
That she was all alone there, wandering;
Moreover: “Do you know, when the birds sing,
My heart's desire is for a mate,” she said.
What escort had she through the woods in spring.
But with soft accents she replied and said
That she was all alone there, wandering;
Moreover: “Do you know, when the birds sing,
My heart's desire is for a mate,” she said.
While she was telling me this wish of hers,
The birds were all in song throughout the wood.
“Even now then,” said my thought, “the time recurs,
With mine own longing to assuage her mood.”
And so, in her sweet favour's name, I sued
That she would kiss there and embrace with me.
The birds were all in song throughout the wood.
“Even now then,” said my thought, “the time recurs,
With mine own longing to assuage her mood.”
And so, in her sweet favour's name, I sued
That she would kiss there and embrace with me.
371
She took my hand to her with amorous will,
And answered that she gave me all her heart,
And drew me where the leaf is fresh and still,
Where spring the wood-flowers in the shade apart.
And on that day, by Joy's enchanted art,
There Love in very presence seemed to be.
And answered that she gave me all her heart,
And drew me where the leaf is fresh and still,
Where spring the wood-flowers in the shade apart.
And on that day, by Joy's enchanted art,
There Love in very presence seemed to be.
The glossary to Barberino, already mentioned, refers to the existence, among the Strozzi MSS., of a poem by Lapo di Farinata degli Uberti, written in answer to the above ballata of Cavalcanti. As this respondent was no other than Guido's brother-in-law, one feels curious to know what he said to the peccadilloes of his sister's husband. But I fear the poem cannot yet have been published, as I have sought for it in vain at all my printed sources of information.
| The Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti | |