Lapo Gianni. “Ballata. A Message in charge for his Lady Lagia.”

Dante Gabriel Rossetti

General Description

Date: 1848?; 1861
Rhyme: YZZY (refrain), ABCABCCDDY
Meter: iambic pentameter
Genre: ballata

Scholarly Commentary

Introduction

DGR's translation is nearly as graceful and charming as Lapo Gianni's original ballata, whose metrical scheme it follows exactly. Both poems are marked with a style of passionate reserve. The translation is also, in point of literal sense, much less free than most of DGR's poems.

DGR's source was either Poeti del Primo Secolo (II. 118-120) or Raccolta di Rime Antiche Toscane (I. 425-426). See also the commentary for the source text.

Textual History: Composition

Probably an early translation, late 1840s.

Printing History

The translation was first published in 1861 in The Early Italian Poets; it was reprinted in 1874 in Dante and his Circle.

Electronic Archive Edition: 1
Source File: 150d-1861.raw.xml