On The Vita Nuova Of Dante

AS he that loves oft looks on the dear form
 And guesses how it grew to womanhood,
 And gladly would have watched the beauties bud
  And the mild fire of precious life wax warm:
  So I, long bound within the threefold charm
 Of Dante's love sublimed to heavenly mood,
 Had marvelled, touching his Beatitude,
  How grew such presence from man's shameful swarm.
  At length within this book I found pourtrayed
 Newborn that Paradisal Love of his,
  And simple like a child; with whose clear aid
 I understood. To such a child as this,
  Christ, charging well His chosen ones, forbade
 Offence: “for lo! of such my kingdom is.”