Page:The New Life (Rossetti 1899) Siddal ed.djvu/29

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THE NEW LIFE.

(LA VITA NUOVA.)

IN that part of the book of my memory before the which is little that can be read, there is a rubric, saying, Incipit Vita Nova.[1] Under such rubric I find written many things; and among them the words which I purpose to copy into this little book; if not all of them, at the least their substance.

Nine times already since my birth had the heaven of light returned to the selfsame point almost, as concerns its own revolution, when first the glorious Lady of my mind was made manifest to mine eyes; even she who was called Beatrice by many who knew

  1. "Here beginneth the new life."

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