Of the Abbe de S A D E. 181 



So, likewife, in the next fonnet, 304. *. 

 | c O happy day, when, iffuing from this earthly prifon, and 

 '* throwing off the fpoils of mortality, burfting from this cloud 

 " of darknefs into the fplendour of eternal day, I fee at once 

 " my God, and the dear object of my love !" 



In his hymn to the Virgin, with which he concludes his fon- 

 nets, and which is, perhaps, the mod perfect: of his compofitions, 

 where he confeffes all the errors and weakneffes of his life ; and 

 when, from the nature of the fubject, he muft have deemed it 

 nothing lefs than impiety to have uttered a falfehood, or even 

 to have palliated or extenuated a crime, he takes merit tohim- 

 felf, in the fight of heaven, for his paflion for Laura ; and thus 

 reafons with the KlefTed Virgin, appealing to that clemency 

 which he fuppofes her peculiar characteriftic f : 



" O Bleffed Virgin, paragon of clemency and humanity, 

 " let the example of the Almighty Being incite thee to fhew 

 " mercy to an humble, contrite heart; and if with fuch ftrength 

 " and ardour of affection I have been capable of loving a frail 

 " mortal, what mayft thou not conclude muft be my devotion 



" towards 



* felice quel dz, che del terreno 



Car cere ufcendo, lafci rotta e /part a, 



^uejla mia grave ^ efrale, e mortal gonna,— - 



£ da ilfolte tenehre mi part a, 

 Voltando tanto fu nel belfereno, 

 Ch' io veggia il mio Signore, e la mia Donna. 



f Vergine umana, e nemica d ' orgoglio, 



Del commune principio amor t' induca ; 



Miferere d ' un cor contrito umlle ; 



Che fe poca mortal terra caduca 



Amar con si mirabilfede fogh'o, 



Che dovrb far di te cofa gentile ! — Canz, 8. Part. a. 



Vol. V.— P.IL 



