To Gandolfo Porrino. On His Mistress Faustina Mancina.

La nuova alta beltà.


That new transcendent fair who seems to be
        Peerless in heaven as in this world of woe,
        (The common folk, too blind her worth to know
        And worship, called her Left Arm wantonly),
Was made, full well I know, for only thee:
        Nor could I carve or paint the glorious show
        Of that fair face: to life thou needs must go,
        To gain the favour thou dost crave of me.
If like the sun each star of heaven outshining,
        She conquers and outsoars our soaring thought,
        This bids thee rate her worth at its real price.
Therefore to satisfy thy ceaseless pining,
        Once more in heaven hath God her beauty wrought:
        God and not I can people Paradise.