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The mind, used to living not by the world's but its own sincere and clear light, when new or strange thoughts are born, distances itself, reluctant to take in new or strange thoughts, like the proud eagle not deigning to grieve if hunted, driven far from her babies, so wild, so fierce is she; or like the boy who lacks his father's strength, Phaeton, striving to master the sun, is this rare woman, not defeated by this Godless angry world. Alas, I cannot sing of the nature of her true courage, so let others tell how she lent her integrity to kings, shone more brightly than any of their crowns. |
An image of the Italian text from Visconti's 1840 edition |
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Notes: From V XIII:155. See also B E9:207; MSss Cor, Ve3. Translation: Thérault 308-9. To Giovanna d'Aragona, wife to Ascanio Colonna, Vittoria's sister-in-law and friend. Key |
