Chapter XXII

_Io dico che fra noi, potenti dei,
Convien ch’ogni riverso si sopporti!
Poi che sarete morti
Di mille ’ngiurie e torti,
Amando te com’or di lei tu ardi,
Far ne potrai giustamente vendetta.
Ahimè lasso chi pur tropp’aspetta
Ch’i’ gionga a’ suoi conforti tanto tardi!
Ancor, se ben riguardi,
Un generoso alter’e nobil core
Perdon’, e porta a chi l’offend’amore._

FLORENTINE EXILE

_O’er us, I think, divinities on high!
Impendeth every shameful overthrow!_

MICHELANGELO

_Albeit thou underlie
A thousand deaths of injury and woe,
A period will be,
When loved by her as she is loved by thee,
Thou mayest the sweet of lawful vengeance know._

FLORENTINE EXILE

_Alas! for aye aweary doth he dwell,
Who waiteth for his comfort coming slow!
And perfect truth to tell,
A generous heart, of proud nobility,
Forgiveth, and doth love its enemy._