The sonnet is clearly a spoof of Dante Alighieri's
opening sonnet to his Vita
Nuova. It thus continues the ironical treatment
of his friend's work that is best known from his direct response to Dante in
Di ciò, che
stato sei dimandatore”. DGR's translation here contrasts
sharply with the stilted ineffectuality of the other translation.
DGR's source was the
Poeti
del Primo Secolo (II. 499). The translation's rhyme scheme varies in the sestet.
This collection contains 10 texts and images, including:
Early Italian Poets text.
Scholarly Commentary
Introduction
The sonnet is clearly a spoof of Dante Alighieri's opening sonnet to his Vita Nuova. It thus continues the ironical treatment of his friend's work that is best known from his direct response to Dante in Di ciò, che stato sei dimandatore”. DGR's translation here contrasts sharply with the stilted ineffectuality of the other translation.
DGR's source was the Poeti del Primo Secolo (II. 499). The translation's rhyme scheme varies in the sestet.
See also the commentary for the source text.
Textual History: Composition
The date of the translation is uncertain. It may be early.
Printing History
The translation was first published in 1861 in The Early Italian Poets; it was reprinted in 1874 in Dante and his Circle.