XXII
   
  Tanto gentile e tanto onesta pare 
    la donna mia quand'ella altrui saluta, 
    ch'ogne lingua deven tremando muta, 
    e li occhi no l'ardiscon di guardare. 
    Ella si va, sentendosi laudare, 
    benignamente d'umiltà vestuta; 
    e par che sia una cosa venuta 
    da cielo in terra a miracol mostrare. 
  Mostrasi sì piacente a chi la mira, 
    che dà per li occhi una dolcezza al core, 
    che 'ntender no la può chi no la prova: 
    e par che de la sua labbia si mova 
    un spirito soave pien d'amore, 
    che va dicendo a l'anima: Sospira. 
   
   
  

XXII

   So gentle and so full of dignity 
my lady appears when she greets anyone 
that all tongues tremble and fall silent 
and eyes dare not look at her. She goes 
on her way, hearing herself praised, 
graciously clothed with humility; and seems 
a creature come down from heaven to earth 
to make the miraculous known. 
   She appears so beautiful to those who gaze 
at her that through the eyes she sends 
a sweetness into the heart such as none can 
understand but he who experiences it; and from 
her lips seems to come a spirit, gentle 
and full of love, that says to the soul: 'Sigh.'