User:Pjoef/Quotes/14

14 + 31 March – 1 April
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Al cor gentil rempaira sempre amore Guido Guinizzelli (1230–1276) XIII Century

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 Al cor gentil rempaira sempre amore come l’ausello in selva a la verdura; né fe’ amor anti che gentil core, né gentil core anti ch’amor, natura: ch’adesso con’ fu ’l sole, sì tosto lo splendore fu lucente, né fu davanti ’l sole; e prende amore in gentilezza loco così propïamente come calore in clarità di foco.

Foco d’amore in gentil cor s’aprende come vertute in petra prezïosa, che da la stella valor no i discende anti che ’l sol la faccia gentil cosa; poi che n’ha tratto fòre per sua forza lo sol ciò che li è vile, stella li dà valore: così lo cor ch’è fatto da natura asletto, pur, gentile, donna a guisa di stella lo ’nnamora.

Amor per tal ragion sta ’n cor gentile per qual lo foco in cima del doplero: splendeli al su’ diletto, clar, sottile; no li stari’ altra guisa, tant’è fero. Così prava natura recontra amor come fa l’aigua il foco caldo, per la freddura. Amore in gentil cor prende rivera per suo consimel loco com’ adamàs del ferro in la minera.

Fere lo sol lo fango tutto ’l giorno: vile reman, né ’l sol perde calore; dis’omo alter: «Gentil per sclatta torno»; lui semblo al fango, al sol gentil valore: ché non dé dar om fé che gentilezza sia fòr di coraggio in degnità d’ere’ sed a vertute non ha gentil core, com’aigua porta raggio e ’l ciel riten le stelle e lo splendore.

Splende ’n la ’ntelligenzïa del cielo Deo crïator più che [’n] nostr’occhi ’l sole: ella intende suo fattor oltra ’l cielo, e ’l ciel volgiando, a Lui obedir tole; e con’ segue, al primero, del giusto Deo beato compimento, così dar dovria, al vero, la bella donna, poi che [’n] gli occhi splende del suo gentil, talento che mai di lei obedir non si disprende.

Donna, Deo mi dirà: «Che presomisti?», sïando l’alma mia a lui davanti. «Lo ciel passasti e ’nfin a Me venisti e desti in vano amor Me per semblanti: ch’a Me conven le laude e a la reina del regname degno, per cui cessa onne fraude». Dir Li porò: «Tenne d’angel sembianza che fosse del Tuo regno; non me fu fallo, s’in lei posi amanza».

Translation (translated by Robert R. Edwards):  Love returns always to a noble heart, Like a bird to the green in the forest. Nature did not make love before the noble heart, Nor the noble heart before love. As soon as the sun appeared, Brightness shone forth, But it did not exist before the sun. And love takes its place in true nobility As rightly As heat in the brightness of fire.

Love's fire catches in the noble heart, Like the power of a precious stone Whose potency does not descend from the star Until the sun makes it a noble object: After the sun has drawn out Everything base with its own force, The star confers power on it. In such a way, lady, Like the star, transforms the heart Chosen by Nature and made pure and noble.

Love remains in the noble heart for the same reason That fire shines on the tip of a candle Clear and refined in its own delight. Nor could it be any other way—it is proud. Thus a baser nature Opposes love, just as water quenches Burning fire with its coldness. Love takes its place in the noble heart As its rightful dwelling Like the diamond in a vein of ore.

Sun strikes the mud all day long: It remains base, nor does the sun lose heat. A proud man says, “I am made noble by birth.” I liken him to the mud and noble worth to the sun. No man should believe That nobility exists outside the heart, By right of lineage, Unless he has a noble heart disposed to virtue, Just as water carries the sunray And the sky holds the stars and their brightness.

God the Creator shines in the Intelligence Of the heavens, more than even the sun in our eyes. It understands its maker beyond the sky And, turning the sky, prepares to obey Him; And much as the blessed realization Of the just God follows instantly, So truly should the beautiful lady, When she shines in the eyes of her noble lover, Inspire a wish that he will never Cease in his obedience to her.

Lady, God will say to me when my soul Stands before Him, “How could you presume? You went past heaven, coming finally to me, And tried to compare Me to a vain love. All praises are due to me alone And to the Queen of this noble realm Through whom all evil ends.” But I shall say to Him: “She had the likeness Of an angel from your kingdom. It's not my fault if I fell in love with her.”

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 Guido Guinizzelli, "Al cor gentil rempaira sempre amore" Codice Banco Rari 217 (ex Palatino 418), II, f. 13r. Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale

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