Poems (Hooper)/Dante
DANTE.
Einsam durch Verona's Gassen wandelt einst der grosse Dante.
Through the streets of fair Verona once alone great Dante went,
When the bard of Florence wandered from his land in banishment;
When the bard of Florence wandered from his land in banishment;
And it chanced a little maiden, as he passed, the poet spied;
And she spake thus to her sister, who was sitting by her side:
And she spake thus to her sister, who was sitting by her side:
"Sister, look, there goes that Dante who descended into hell;
On his dusky brow are written gloom and horror—mark him well.
On his dusky brow are written gloom and horror—mark him well.
"In that city of the torments he has seen such anguish sore
That an inward terror holds him, and he smileth nevermore.
That an inward terror holds him, and he smileth nevermore.
Dante heard, and turned toward her—from his lips these accents fell:
"To forget the trick of smiling I need no descent to hell.
"To forget the trick of smiling I need no descent to hell.
"All the suffering I depicted—every torment, every wound—
Here upon this earth already, ay, in Florence, I have found."
Geibel.
Here upon this earth already, ay, in Florence, I have found."
Geibel.