BEATRICE

Nine mystic revolutions of the spheres

Since Dante's birth, and lo! a star new-born

Shining in heaven: and like a lark at morn

Springing to meet it, straight in all men's ears,

A strange new song, which through the listening years

Grew deep as lonely sobbing from the thorn

Rising at eve, shot through with bitter scorn,

Full-throated with the ecstasy of tears.

Long since that star arose, that song upsprang,

That shine and sing in heaven above us yet;

Since thy white childhood, glorious Beatrice,

Dawned like a blessed angel upon his:

Thy star it was that did his song beget,

Star shining for us still because he sang.