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by Cant hold me Down on February 28th, 2007

Cant hold me Down

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Can anyone please help me decipher this poem line for line. Heres the link http://www.poetry-archive.com/a/death_always_cruel.html

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  • by singwell-is off researching a lot on February 28th, 2007

    singwell-is off researching a lot

    the poem comes from a longer work, La Vita Nuova (New Life). Dante himself gives the reasons for writing it:
    "A certain while after the departure of that lady, it pleased the Master of the Angels to call into His glory a damsel, young and of a gentle presence, who had been very lovely in the city of which I speak. And I saw her body lying without its soul among many ladies, who held a pitiful weeping. Whereupon, remembering that I had seen her in the company of excellent Beatrice, I could not hinder myself from a few tears. And weeping, I conceived to say somewhat of her death, in repayment for having seen her sometimes with my lady. I spoke of this in the latter end of the verses that I wrote in this matter, as any will discern who understands. And I wrote two sonnets, which are these...."
    The poem then, deals with the cruelty of taking the life of a young and beautiful woman. In it, death is upbraided for his/her cruelty.
    I think the main problem is the archaic language used by the translator. What a pity someone has not gone back to the Medieval Italian and made a more modern translation. Let me see if I can make anything of it for you.
    DEATH, always cruel, Pity's foe in chief,
    (To you death who are always cruel and the chief enemy of pity/feeling)
    Mother who brought forth grief
    (You are the mother who gave birth to grief)
    Merciless judgment and without appeal!
    (as well as judgement with out mercy or appeal)
    Since thou alone hast made my heart to feel
    This sadness and unweal,
    My tongue upbraideth thee without relief.
    (since you are the only one who has made me feel such sadness and sickness to soul, I'm going to tell you off continuously)
    And now (for I must rid thy name of ruth)
    Behoves me speak the truth
    Touching thy cruelty and wickedness:
    (And now( because I have to get rid of any idea that you are merciful in name)
    I must tell the truth
    about your cruelty and wickedness)
    Not that they be not known; but ne'ertheless
    I would give hate more stress
    With them that feed on love in very sooth.
    (It's not that people aren't aware of your cruelty and wickedness, but nevertheless I would emphasise these things that feed on love , truthfully)

    Out of this world thou hast driven courtesy,
    And virtue, dearly prized in womanhood;
    And out of youth's gay mood
    The lovely lightness is quite gone through thee.
    (You have shoved courtesy and virtue, dearly prized in females, out of this world
    The through you,this lovely lightness has gone from youth's happy mood)

    Whom now I mourn, no man shall learn from me
    Save by the measure of these praises given.
    Whoso deserves not Heaven
    May never hope to have her company.

    (No one shall learn from me the name of the person I am mourning now
    except by how deeply I praise her.
    those who do not deserve Heaven
    Will never enjoy her company)
    =========================
    In other words, Death has taken this virtuous, gentle girl, whose name he will not say, but whom he clearly esteems for her qualities, and deserves to be yelled at for having done so. The world has lost a lot through this girl's death.

    Hope that helps.

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