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“La Nuvoletta” by Ezra Pound 🇺🇸🇮🇹 (30 Oct 1885 – 1 Nov 1972)
Dante to an unknown lady, beseeching her not to interrupt his cult of the dead Beatrice. From “Il Canzoniere,” Ballata II.
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Ah little cloud that in Love’s shadow lief
Upon mine eyes so suddenly alightest,
Take some faint pity on the heart thou smitest
That hopes in thee, desires, dies, in brief.
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Ah little cloud of more than human fashion
Thou settest a flame within my mind’s mid space
With thy deathly speech that grieveth;
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Then as a fiery spirit in thy ways
Createst hope, in part a rightful passion,
Yet where thy sweet smile giveth
His grace, look not! For in Her my faith liveth.
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Think on my high desire whose flame’s so great
That nigh a thousand who were come too late,
Have felt the torment of another’s grief.