At length, he says, "The sight of this lady brought me into so new a condition, that I often thought of her as of one who pleased me exceedingly,--and I thought of her thus: 'This is a gentle, beautiful, young, and discreet lady, and she has perhaps appeared by will of Love, in order that my life may find repose.' And often I thought more amorously, so that my heart consented in it, that is, approved my reasoning. And after it had thus consented, I, moved as if by reason, reflected, and said to myself, 'Ah, what thought is this that in so vile a way seeks to console me, and leaves me scarcely any other thought?' Then another thought rose up and said, 'Now that thou hast been in so great tribulation of Love, why wilt thou not withdraw thyself from such bitterness? Thou seest that this is an inspiration that sets the desires of Love before thee, and proceeds from a place no less gentle than the eyes of the lady who has shown herself so pitiful toward thee.' Wherefore, I, having often thus combated with myself, wished to say some words of it. And as, in this battle of thoughts, those which spoke for her won the victory, it seemed to me becoming to address her, and I said this sonnet, which begins, 'A gentle thought'; and I called it _gentle_ because I was speaking to a gentle lady,--but otherwise it was most vile. "A gentle thought that of you holds discourse Cometh now frequently with me to dwell, And in so sweet a way of Love doth tell, My heart to yield unto him he doth force. "'Who, then, is this,' the soul says to the heart, 'Who cometh to bring comfort to our mind? And is his virtue of so potent kind, That other thoughts he maketh to depart?' "'O saddened soul,' the heart to her replies, 'This is a little spirit fresh from Love, Whose own desires he before me brings; "'His very life and all his power doth move Forth from the sweet compassionating eyes Of her so grieved by our sufferings.'"