Sonnet

GUIDO CAVALCANTI TO DANTE ALIGHIERI:

Returning from its daily quest, my Spirit

Changed thoughts and vile in thee doth weep to find:

It grieves me that thy mild and gentle mind

Those ample virtues which it did inherit

Has lost. Once thou didst loathe the multitude

Of blind and madding men — I then loved thee —

I loved thy lofty songs and that sweet mood

When thou wert faithful to thyself and me

I dare not now through thy degraded state

Own the delight thy strains inspire — in vain

I seek what once thou wert — we cannot meet

And we were wont. Again and yet again

Ponder my words: so the false Spirit shall fly

And leave to thee thy true integrity.