Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Italy: Vols. XI–XIII. 1876–79.
Beatrice
By Henry Sewell Stokes (1808–1895)’T
Under the shadow of Saint Stephen’s tower,
Poor and forlorn, her name the only dower
From him beside whose tomb she often knelt.
Florence, repenting late, compassion felt,
And thence one day a stranger came with gold,
Which to the Nun, so saintly and so cold,
He proffered smiling, while his heart did melt.
No other than Boccaccio brought the gift,
Who as a son revered and loved her sire;
And when she did her hood all meekly lift
To render grateful answer and retire,
He by the father’s portrait knew the child,
And wept, as she returned her thanks and smiled.