Translated from the Italian
by Michael Shindler (October 2025)
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In an antique engraving of Dürer,
ripe to battle against monster and mage,
there is a knight all-arrayed in armor
riding the big dapple-gray horse onstage:
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and flanking him, there is a squire at back,
DEATH, who attends with neither mail nor shield,
and following, there is a page in black,
SIN; and there’s darkness in the brake afield.
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And so I go, once again, to take hold
of ART and of LOVE—into life I go;
that grim squire could never make this heart cold,
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and that page’s laugh just gives me more gusto;
there’s not a card trick that could make me fold;
I’ve got you now—BEAUTY; I’m in your shadow.
–
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Il Cavaliere della Morte
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In un’antica stampa de ‘l Durero
va contro maghi e draghi a la battaglia
tutto chiuso ne l’arme un Cavaliero
su ‘l gran cavallo coperto di scaglia:
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a ‘l fianco l’accompagna da scudiero
la Morte senza piastra e senza maglia,
dietro gli segue da valletto il nero
Peccato; e fosca innanzi è la boscaglia.
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Io così, nuovamente, a la conquista
de l’Arte e de l’Amor, salgo la vita;
ma il mio bieco scudier non mi rattrista,
–
ma il valletto ridendo alto m’incita
ed incanto non v’ha che mi resista,
poi che già in groppa, o Bella, io t’ho rapita.
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Michael Shindler is a writer living in Washington, DC. His work has appeared in publications including The American Conservative, The American Spectator, National Review Online, New English Review, University Bookman, and Providence. Follow him on Twitter @MichaelShindler.
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