The Chained Muse

The Chained Muse

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The Chained Muse
The Chained Muse
Tanto gentil e tanto onesta pare by Dante Alighieri (Reading)

Tanto gentil e tanto onesta pare by Dante Alighieri (Reading)

Translation

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David Gosselin
Nov 22, 2023
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The Chained Muse
The Chained Muse
Tanto gentil e tanto onesta pare by Dante Alighieri (Reading)
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File:Salvatore Postiglione - Dante e Beatrice.jpg
Dante and Beatrice (1906) - Salvatore Postiglione

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Tanto gentil e tanto onesta pare
la donna mia, quand’ella altrui saluta,
ch’ogne lingua devèn, tremando, muta,
e li occhi no l’ardiscon di guardare.
Ella si va, sentendosi laudare,
benignamente e d’umiltà vestuta,
e par che sia una cosa venuta
da cielo in terra a miracol mostrare.
Mostrasi sì piacente a chi la mira
che dà per li occhi una dolcezza al core,
che ’ntender no la può chi no la prova;
e par che de la sua labbia si mova
un spirito soave pien d’amore,
che va dicendo a l’anima: Sospira.

Tanto gentil e tanto onesta pare

So gentle and so honest seems my lady,  
Whenever and wherever she meets others  
That every other tongue’s beset with tremors,  
And eyes lose all their strength and power to see.  
She makes her way, receiving praises humbly,  
With graces showering down all around her,  
Sent down to Earth with miracles to offer  
Among the many spheres of the worldly.  
Such joy finds the soul lucky to perceive  
The o…

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