Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 — Romaunt of the Rose; Minor PoemsChaucer, Geoffrey
General
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 — Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems
Chaucer, Geoffrey
English poetry -- Middle English, 1100-1500
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'And then she saw in that pass Grace [_Leggiadria_], P. F. 218.
With Adorning [_Adornezza_] and Affability,
And the wholly estrayed Courtesy;
And she saw the Arts that have power
To make others perforce do folly,
In their aspect much disfigured.
The Vain Delight of our form
She saw standing alone with Gentilesse.
>>
E poi vide in quel passo Leggiadria
Con Adornezza ed Affabilitate,
E la ismarrita in tutto Cortesia,
E vide l'Arti ch' hanno potestate
Di fare altrui a forza far follia,
Nel loro aspetto molto isfigurate:
Delia immagine nostra il van Diletto
Con Gentilezza vide star soletto.
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'Then she saw Beauty pass her by, P. F. 225.
Without any ornament, gazing on herself;
And with her she saw Attraction [_Piacevolezza_] go,--
She [the prayer] commending to herself both one and other.
With them she saw standing Youth,
Lively and adorned, making great feast:
And on the other side she saw madcap Audacity
Going along with Glozings and Pimps.
>>
Poi vide appresso a sè passar Bellezza
Sanz' ornamento alcun sè riguardando,
E vide gir con lei Piacevolezza,
E l'una e l'altra seco commendando,
Vide con loro starsi Giovinezza
Destra ed adorna, molto festeggiando:
E d'altra parte vide il folle Ardire
Con Lusinghe e Ruffiani insieme gire.
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'In mid the place, on lofty columns, P. F. 232.
She saw a temple of copper; round which
She saw youths dancing and women--
This one of them beautiful, and that one in fine raiment,
Ungirdled, barefoot, only in their hair and gowns,
Who spent the day in this alone.
Then over the temple she saw doves hover
And settle and coo.
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In mezzo il loco sur alte colonne
Di rame vide un tempio, al qual d'intorno
Danzanti giovinetti vide e donne,
Qual d'esse bella, e qual d'abito adorno,
Iscinte, iscalze, in capei soli e'n gonne,
Che in questo solo disponeano il giorno:
Poi sopra il tempio vide volitare
E posarsi colombe e mormorare.
<<
'And near to the entry of the temple P. F. 239.
She saw that there sat quietly
My lady Peace, who a curtain
Moved lightly before the door.
Next her, very subdued in aspect,
Sat Patience discreetly,
Pallid in look; and on all sides
Around her she saw artful Promises.
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E all'entrata del tempio vicina
Vide che si sedava pianamente
Monna Pace, la quale una cortina
Movea innanzi alla porta lievemente;
Appresso a lei in vista assai tapina
Pacienza sedea discretamente;
Pallida nell' aspetto, e d'ogni parte
Intorno a lei vide Promesse ad arte.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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