i%o EXAMINATION of an HISTORICAL HYPOTHESIS 



point, let him read the following ftriking apoftrophe in fon- 

 net 302. : 



Donna, che lieta *, &c. 



" O Lady, that now (landed in the prefence of Gon ; as, fure 

 " thy fpotlefs life has well deferved that place ! O matchlefs pa- 

 " ragon of all that is excellent in woman ! Now, with the eyes 

 " of Him who fees all things, thou beholdeft my faithful love, 

 " my pure and virtuous affection ; and thou feeft, that towards 

 " thee my heart felt the fame emotions while thou wert on 

 " earth, as now in heaven. O, that, in reward of all my length- 

 " ened fufferings, I foon may join thee there !" 



In the end of fonnet 303., immediately following, he thus ex- 

 preffes himfelf : 



Sul un co nf or to f , &c. 



* My only comfort is, that me who fees my thoughts, may ob- 

 " tain for me that mercy that I may foon be with her." 



So, 



* Donna, che lieta col principio nojiro 

 *£ijl-ai come tua vita alma richiede, 

 djjifa in alta e gloriofa fede.— 



dclle donne altera e raro moftro, 

 Hor nel volto di lui che tutto vede, 

 Vedi- 'I mio amore^ e quella purafede-— 



E fenti, che ver te il mio core in terra 

 Talfu, qual hor a in cielo. ■ 



Dunque per amviendar la lunga guerra, 

 Per cui dal mondo a te fola mi vol/i, 

 Prega, ch' io venga tojio ajlar con vou . 



t Sol 'un conforto a le mie pen-e afpetto 

 Ch' el/a che vede tutti i miei penjieri 

 M' impttre gratia ch' i' pojfn cjfer feco* 



