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You followed your magnificent Captain, in His footsteps, you fearlessly confronted the frightening ambush, stood firm amid the relentless struggle, your weapon self- abasement. Contemptuous you dismissed society--stripped yourself bare, but with no false pride, the cross your treasure, you quietly made your way through deserted countrysides-- savage wilds--and we saw what grace can do, how transform the heart, through which God's hand drew real love for us and told His history. Francis, when He embraced you, pressed you close, tight, then drew apart, He carved deep wounds, made visible how He beat death and the world. |
An image of the Italian text from Visconti's 1840 edition |
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Notes: From V CXX:280. See also B S1:124:147; MSs Ve2 (V2), L, A, CASI, Pr, RA; Valgrisi 125. A second of two sonnets to St Francis of Assisi. The English reader may find a concise complete summary of all legends and sources in J. C. J. Metford's Dictionary of Christian Lore and Legend. Strongly Valdesian; see Carlo Ossola, introd. Valdés, Juan de. Lo Evangelio di San Matteo, ed. Anna Maria Cavallarin. Roma: Bolzoni, 1985. VC is again also thinking of herself and her Captain, Pescara. Key |
