The country I was born in lies alongThe country I was born in lies along
Siede la terra dove nata fui
The coast, just as the point the Po descends
su la marina dove'l Po discende
To have some peace among its followers.
per aver pace co' seguaci sui.
Love, which quickly fastens on gentle hearts,
Amor, ch'al cor gentil ratto s'apprende,
Seized that wretch, and it was for the personal beauty
prese costui della bella persona
Which was taken from me; how it happened still offends me.
che mi tu tolta; e 'l modo ancor m'offende.
Love, which allows no one who is loved to escape,
Amor, ch'a nulio amato amar perdona,
Seized me so strongly with my pleasure in him,
me prese del costui piacer sí forte,
That as you see, it does not leave me now.
che, come vedi, ancor non m'abandonna.
Love led us to find a single death;
Amor condusse noi ad una morte:
Caina awaits him who brought us to this end'
Caina attende chi a vita ci spense"
Painting: Details from Francesca da Rimini by William Dyce, 1837. National Gallery of Scotland.
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