Dante Alighieri – Canto 5, Inferno

Gaetano Previati, Death of Paolo and Francesca, 1887

Love, that in gentle heart is quickly learnt,
entangled him by that fair form, from me 
ta’en in such cruel sort, as grieves me still:
Love, that denial takes from none beloved,
caught me with pleasing him so passing well,
that, as thou seest, he yet deserts me not.
Love brought us to one death: Caïna waits 
the soul, who spilt our life.

Amor, ch’ al cor gentil ratto s’apprende,
prese costui de la bella persona
che mi fu tolta; e ‘l modo ancor m’offende.
Amor, ch’ a nullo amato amar perdona,
mi prese del costui piacer si’ forte,
che, come vedi, ancor non m’abbandona.
Amor condusse noi ad una morte:
Caina attende chi a vita ci spense.