i82 EXAMINATION of an HISTORICAL HrPOTHESIS 



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

 fect 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 profpe<£l of death ; 



Or fe* Jalito, caro Signer mio, 

 • Nel regno al qual falir ancora afpetta 

 Ogni anima da Dio a quello eletta, 

 Nelfuo partir di quejlo mondo rio. 

 Or fe* cola dove fpejfo il dejio 

 Ti tiro gia per vedere Lauretta ; 

 Crfe' dove la mia bell a Fiammetta 

 Siede con lei nel cofpetto di Dio. 

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

 Vivi fecuro d y eterno ripofo, 

 Mirando cofe da noi non intefe. 

 Deb .' /' aggrado tifui nel mondo err ante, 

 Tirami dietro a te, dove gioiofo 

 Vegga colei che pria d ' amor nC accefe. 



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

 " to which all the fpirits of the juft, the elect 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 object, of thy moft earned 

 " wilhes ; 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 under ft anding. 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 !" 



6to. 



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