"Scilicet incipiam limâ mordacius uti,

Et sub judicium singula verba vocem."

OVID.

PRINTED BY R. AND J. E. TAYLOR,

RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

PREFAC E.

THE poems of the VITA NUOVA and CONVITO have already appeared in an English dress in the CANZONIERE OF DANTE published in 1835. They are here presented in a corrected version, having been carefully revised, with a view to give the literal sense with more scrupulous fidelity.

The first idea of making a verbal translation occurred to the writer when studying the remarkable works of Professor Rossetti, who considers the VITA NUOVA as an enigma, the CONVITO as its solution, and the two together as affording the master-key for unlocking the mysteries of the COMMEDIA. He further says that the poetical language of Dante generally is constructed in a double sense, a literal and an allegorical, conveying an obvious and a secret, an exoteric and an esoteric sense, after the model of the writings of the ancient philosophers. For arriving,

therefore, at the internal and hidden sense, the first step undoubtedly is to understand the plain external sense of the words and sentiments which cover and conceal it. "Perocchè in ciascuna cosa che ha 'l dentro e'l fuori, è impossibile venire al dentro se prima non si viene al di fuori*."

This the Translator has endeavoured to accomplish, and to communicate the literal meaning of the poems faithfully in blank verse. At the same time, he has considerable doubts whether his purpose would not have been more completely attained if he had followed the recommendation and example of M. Villemain, and given the preference to prose. M. Ville"On ne saurait assez admirer la fécondité

main says, du Dante mais comment faire sentir la grâce de cette expression, tantôt familière, terrestre, et tantôt. idéale? Le talent a pu l'essayer dans des vers français; mais toute traduction en vers est une autre création que l'original. Pour en donner quelque idée, il vaut mieux en calquer les formes dans une prose naturelle. Il en est de la prose, pour traduire exactement un poëte, comme de ces figures de cire qui n'ont

*Convito, Tratt. 2. c. 1.