To make thy mem'ry hallowed she prevails.
Of thee she entertains the blessed throngs,
And says to them, while yet my body thrave
On earth, I gat much honour which he gave,
Commending me in his commended songs.
(Transl. by D.G. Rossetti.)
At the conclusion of his finest poem, "Al Cor Gentil," Guinicelli, next to Dante doubtless the greatest poet of the Middle Ages, says: "God will ask me after my death: 'How could'st thou have loved aught but Me?' And I will reply: 'She came from Thy realm and bore the semblance of an angel. Therefore in loving her, I was not unfaithful to Thee!'" Here we have the perfection of metaphysical eroticism: the beloved woman is God; he who loves her, loves God in her.
Cavalcanti maintained in a poem that an image of the Madonna actually bore the features of his lady.
Guido, an image of my lady dwells
At San Michele, in Orto, consecrate,