[Iohannes De Virgillio Danti Alagherii. Carmen]

 Pyeridum vox alma, novis qui cantibus orbem 
mulces letifluum, vitali tollere ramo 
dum cupis, evolvens triplicis confinia sortis 
indita pro meritis animarum, sontibus Orcum, 
astripetis Lethen, epyphebia regna beatis, 
tanta quid heu semper iactabis seria vulgo, 
et nos pallentes nichil ex te vate legemus? 
Ante quidem cythara pandum delphyna movebit 
Davus et ambigue Sphyngos problemata solvet, 
Tartareum preceps quam gens ydiota figuret 
et segreta poli vix experata Platoni: 
que tamen in triviis nunquam digesta coaxat 

[Giovanni del Virgilio to Dante Alighieri. Eclogue I].

Sacred voice of the Pierides who with unwonted songs dost sweeten 
the stagnant world, as with life-giving branch thou longest to upraise it,  
unfolding the regions of threefold fate assigned according to  
deserts of souls, Orcus to the guilty, Lethe to them 
that seek the stars, the realms above the sun to the blest;  
such weighty themes why wilt thou still cast to the vulgar,  
while we pale students shall read nought from thee as bard?  
Sooner shalt thou stir the curving dolphin with the harp,  
and Davus solve the riddles of equivocating Sphinx,  
than that unlettered folk shall figure the precipice of Tartarus  
and secrets of the pole scarce unsphered by Plato. Yet these are  
the very themes which are croaked forth, all undigested, at street corners