XXVII.
I say that this my lady reached such favor that not only was she honored and praised, but through her were many ladies honored and praised. Wherefore I, seeing this, and wishing to manifest it to whoever saw it not, resolved further to say words in which this should be set forth; and I devised then this other sonnet, which relates how her virtue wrought in other ladies: —
All welfare hath he perfectly beheld
Who amid ladies doth my lady see;
And they who go with her are all compelled
Grateful to God for this fair grace to be.
Her beauty of such virtue is indeed,
That it no envy doth in others move;
Rather she makes them with her to proceed,
Clothed on with gentleness and faith and love.
Her sight creates in all humility,
And maketh not herself to please alone,
But each gains honor who to her is nigh.
So gentle in her every act is she,
That she can be recalled to mind by none
Who doth not, in Love’s very sweetness, sigh.
This sonnet has three parts: in the first, I tell among what people this lady appeared most admirable; in the second, I tell how gracious was her company; in the third, I tell of those things which she wrought with power in others. The second begins here: “And they who go;” the third, here: “Her beauty of such virtue.” This last part is divided into three: in the first, I tell that which she wrought in ladies, namely, as regards themselves; in the second, I tell that which she wrought in them in respect to others; in the third, I tell how she wrought not only in ladies, but in all persons, and how she marvellously wrought not only in presence, but also in memory. The second begins here: “Her sight;” the third, here: “So gentle.”