337. ‘Quel, che d’odore et di color vincea’

That which in scent and colour overcame

the fragrant and the shining Orient,

fruit, flowers, grass, and leaves (in which

the West has the prize for all rare excellence),

my sweet laurel, where every beauty

used to live, every burning virtue,

saw my lord, and my goddess,

seated in its virtuous shade.

More, I placed the nest of choicest thought

in that kindly tree: and in fire and ice

I trembled, burning, I was so happy.

This world was filled with her perfect worth,

when God reclaimed her to adorn the heavens:

and she was a being sent from Him.