Ahi, ben è reo destin, ch' invidia, e toglie Almondo il suon de' vostri chiari accenti, Onde addivien che le terrene genti De' maggior pregi, impoverisca e spoglie. Ch' ogni nebbia mortal, che 'l senso accoglie, Sgombrar potea dalle più fosche menti L' armonìa dolce, e bei pensieri ardenti Spirar d' onore, e pure e nobil voglie. Ma non si merta qui forse cotanto; E basta ben che i sereni occhi, e 'l riso N' infiammin d' un piacer celeste e santo. Nulla fora più bello il Paradiso, Se 'l mondo udisse, in voi d' angelo il canto, Siccome vede in voi d' angelo il viso. "O cruel--O envious destiny, that hast deprived the world of those delicious accents, that hast made earth poor in what was dearest and sweetest! No cloud ever gathered over the gloomiest mind, which the melody of that voice could not disperse; it breathed but to inspire noble thoughts and chaste desires.--But, no! it was more than mortals could deserve to possess. Those soft eyes, that smile were enough to inspire a sacred and sweet delight.--Nor would Paradise any longer excel this earth, if in your voice we heard an angel sing, as we behold an angel's beauty in your face!" Leonora, to a sweet-toned voice, added a gift, which, unless thus accompanied, loses half its value, and almost all its charm--she spoke well; and her eloquence was so persuasive, that we are told she had power to move her brother Alphonso, when none else could. Tasso says most poetically, E l'aura del parlar cortese e saggio, Fra le rose spirar, s'udia sovente; --meaning--for to translate literally is scarce possible,--that "eloquence played round her lips, like the zephyr breathing over roses." "I (he adds), beholding a celestial beauty walk the earth, closed my eyes in terror, exclaiming, O rashness! O folly! for any to dare to gaze on such charms! Alas! I quickly perceived that this was my least peril. My heart was touched through my ears; her gentle wisdom penetrated deeper than her beauty could reach." With what emotions must a young and ardent poet have listened to his own praises from a beautiful mouth, thus sweetly gifted! and it may be added, that Leonora's eloquence, and the influence she possessed over her brother, were ever employed in behalf of the deserving and unfortunate. The good people of Ferrara had such an exalted idea of her piety and benevolence, that when an earthquake caused a terrible innundation of the Po, and the destruction of the surrounding villages, they attributed the safety of their city entirely to her prayers and intercession.