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Lo, as a falcon, from the hood released, Uplifts his head, and joyous flaps his wings, His beauty and his eagerness increased.—Wright. |
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E'en as a falcon, long upheld in air, Not seeing lure or bird upon the wing, So that the falconer utters in despair "Alas, thou stoop'st!" fatigued descends from high; And whirling quickly round in many a ring, Far from his master sits—disdainfully.—Ibid. |
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As leaves in autumn, borne before the wind, Drop one by one, until the branch laid bare, Sees all its honours to the earth consign'd: So cast them downward at his summons all The guilty race of Adam from that strand— Each as a falcon answering to the call.—Wright. |
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As doves, by strong affection urged, repair With firm expanded wings to their sweet nest, Borne by the impulse of their will through air.—Ibid. |
It is impossible not to be reminded at every step, in spite of the knowledge and taste which Mr. Cary and Mr. Wright have brought to their most difficult task, of the truth which Dante has expressed with his ordinary positiveness.
He is saying that he does not wish his Canzoni to be explained in Latin to those who could not read them in Italian: "Che sarebbe sposta la loro sentenzia colà dove elle non la potessono colla loro bellezza portare. E però sappia ciascuno che nulla cosa per legame musaico (i.e. poetico) armonizzata, si può della sua loquela in altra trasmutare senza rompere tutta la sua dolcezza e armonia. E questa è la ragione per che Omero non si mutò mai di Greco in Latino, come l'altre scritture che avemo da loro."—Convito, i. c. 8, p. 49.