i82 EXAMINAriON of m HISTORICAL HrPOTHESIS 



" towards Thee, the bright example of all excellence !" In per- 

 fecfl union with thefe fentiments of the poet himfelf, is that 

 beautiful fonnet, which BoccACio, recently after the death of 

 Petrarch, compofed in memory of his departed friend. It is 

 formed on that favourite thought, which is moft natural to the 

 foul on the near profpedl of death ; 



Or fe' falito, caro Signor mio, 

 ■ Nel regno al qual falir ancora ofpetta 

 Ogni anima da Dio a quello eletta, 

 Nelfuo partir di quejlo mondo rio. 

 Orfe" cola dove fpeffb il dejio 

 Ti tiro gia per vedere Laujietxa ; 

 Or Je' dove la mia bella Fiammetta 

 Siede con lei nel cofpetto di Dio. 

 Or con Senuccio, e con Cino, e con Dante, 

 Vivi fecuro d* eterno ripofo, 

 Miranda cofe da noi non intefe. 

 Deb ! /' aggrado tifui nel mondo err ante, 

 Tirami dietro a te, dove gioiofo 

 Vegga colei che pria d'' amor vC accefe. 



" Now art thou gone, my dear mafter, to thofe blifsful feats, 

 " to which all the fpirits of the juft, the eledl of God afpire, 

 " when freed from this abode of guilt. Now haft thou attain- 

 " ed that heavenly region, which thy longing defire to fee thy 

 " departed Laura had made the objedl of thy moft earneft 

 " wifties ; where my lovely Fiammetta fits, along with her, in 

 " the prefence of God. Now, with Senuccio, with Cino, and 

 " with Dante, thou liveft in the blifsful aflurance of eternal 

 " reft ; and delighteft in the contemplation of thofe things 

 " which furpafs our weak underftanding. Oh ! if I was ever 

 " dear to thee while in this fleeting fcene of exiftence, draw me 

 " now to thyfelf, where once more I may be happy in the fight 

 " of her who was my firft, my only love !" 



6td. 



