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The Collected Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti (v. 1)
The Collected Works of Dante Gabriel Rossetti - v. 1 Author:Dante Gabriel Rossetti Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: I.—PRINCIPAL POEMS. DANTE AT VERONA. Yea, them shall learn how salt his food who fares Upon another's bread,—how steep his path Who treadeth up and down... more » another's stairs. (Div. Com. Parad. xvii.) Behold, even I, even I am Beatrice. (Div. Com. Purg. xxx.) Of Florence and of Beatrice Servant and singer from of old, O'er Dante's heart in youth had toll'd The knell that gave his Lady peace ; And now in manhood flew the dart Wherewith his City pierced his heart. Yet if his Lady's home above Was Heaven, on earth she filled his soul; And if his City held control To cast the body forth to rove, The soul could soar from earth's vain throng, And Heaven and Hell fulfil the song. Follow his feet's appointed way ;— But little light we find that clears The darkness of the exiled years. Follow his spirit's journey :—nay, What fires are blent, what winds are blown On paths his feet may tread alone ? Yet of the twofold life he led In chainless thought and fettered will Some glimpses reach us,—somewhat still Of the steep stairs and bitter bread,— Of the soul's quest whose stern avow For years had made him haggard now. Alas ! the Sacred Song whereto Both heaven and earth had set their hand Not only at Fame's gate did stand Knocking to claim the passage through, But toiled to ope that heavier door Which Florence shut for evermore. Shall not his birth's baptismal Town One last high presage yet fulfil, And at that font in Florence still His forehead take the laurel-crown ? O God ! or shall dead souls deny The undying soul its prophecy ? Aye, 'tis their hour. Not yet forgot The bitter words he spoke that day When for some great charge far away Her rulers his acceptance sought. " And if I go, who stays ? "—so rose...« less