|
Andrew, God showed you many kindnesses, when you came from afar to greet him and loved the man who prayed in anguish over the afflicted in this desolate world, the son who offered himself in our place and opened his burning heart to you--with a strong hand He gathered the noble souls this ruthless insane world cast out, left to wander in scattered groups at its edges. You glimpsed on the cross the eternal life blind people seem to see as a hard death. Unlike Vittoria, you were swift for victory in straight clear paths; unlike mine, your life of splendour and sweet precious death. |
An image of the Italian text from Visconti's 1840 edition |
|
Notes: From V CII:262. See also B S1:117:143; MS's V2 (Ve2?), L; Valgrisi 118. A sonnet to Andrew, the first apostle. References include Mark 1:16-8; 13:3; John 1:40-2; 12:22; Acts 1:13; there were also legends which talk of Andrew's journeys through Asia Minor and into Scotland, his miracles, and his death as a martyrdom on a saltire (or X-shaped) cross. Mazetti argues this VCs other poems addressed to saints allowed VC to withdraw from society and to people her private world with ideal figures with whom she could identify and compare herself. Key |
