Sacred and legendary art, volume 1 (of 2) / Containing legends of the angels and archangels, the evangelists, the Apostles, the doctors of the church, and St. Mary magdalene, as represented in the fine arts.

by Mrs. Jameson

Nè mai risguarderò il ciel scoperto,

Non parlerò Hebraico nè Latino,

Per fin che quel ch’ io dico non è certo,

Che un fantin di sei di porga favella,

“Perdonato t’ ha Dio; va alla tua cella.”

That is, he swears that for seven years he will neither eat bread nor drink wine, nor look up in the face of heaven, nor speak either Hebrew or Latin, until it shall come to pass that an infant of seven days old shall open its mouth and say, “Heaven hath pardoned thee—go in peace.” So, stripping off his clothes, he crawls on hands and knees like the beasts of the field, eating grass and drinking water.

‘Nor did his resolution fail him—he persists in this “aspra penitenza” for seven years—

Sette anni e sette giorni nel diserto;

Come le bestie andava lui carpone,

E mai non risguardò il ciel scoperto,